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Keelon Brookins: 2013 Wisconsin Football Recruiting Class

In preparation for National Signing Day, we take a look at one of Wisconsin's two defensive backs to enroll early.

Class
Position
Height
Weight
2013
CB
5-11
185 lbs
School
Composite Ranking
Saint Paul (MN) Tartan HS
3 stars (#748 overall - #56 CB)

Go to Wisconsin Football Recruiting Hub >>

Along with fellow defensive back Sojourn Shelton, Badger Nation will get an early look at Keelon Brookins when he enrolls at Wisconsin in the spring. Brookins honored his commitment to UW even after Bret Bielema abruptly departed for Arkansas, and now the Badgers will have another candidate to help fill the secondary void left by the graduated cornerback duo of Devin Smith and Marcus Cromartie.

Despite missing 12 games as a junior due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn meniscus in his left knee, Brookins finished with nine carer interceptions at Tartan. He also utilized his sub-4.4 40-yard dash time as a wide receiver, scoring seven touchdown in four years. Brookins initially was Jerry Kill's first recruit at Minnesota, but after visting Wisconsin a few times last summer, the cornerback switched his commitment, citing Madison's atmosphere and a desire to go away from home.

While the knee injury presents a legitimate question mark as Brookins begins his collegiate career, Tartan coach Tim Murtha has seen no reason to think it'll have a negative impact.

"I've never seen a kid work harder to come back from an injury the way that he has," Murtha said.

[...]

"He has great vision, he's elusive with the ball and he has a great pair of hands," his coach said. "We use him as a wide receiver, but we'll put him in motion and toss him the ball, as well. We can put him in the backfield when we want to. Pound for pound, he's one of the best athletes that has come through Tartan in a long time."

Rankings Rankings

Rivals: (#30 CB - #2 in MN)
Scout: (#67 CB)
ESPN: 75 (#76 CB - #4 in MN)
24/7: 82 (#107 CB - #4 in MN)

Verbal commitment Verbally committed July 25, 2012

As mentioned above, Brookins was initially headed to Minnesota before switching his oral commitment to Wisconsin on July 25, 2012. Brookins said he had been visiting Madison since the previous September, and thus his decision shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise. He assuaged any concerns Bielema's staff might've had about his injury at UW's one-day camp in June, earning him his offer. Brookins said he was initially recruited by former offensive line coach Bob Bostad, though 247 credits secondary coach Ben Strickland for sealing the deal.

In addition to his offers from Wisconsin and Minnesota, Brookins also received interest from Iowa State, Michigan State, Missouri and Nebraska.

Multimedia Video Highlights

Hudl.com Senior Year Highlight

Statistics Statistics

DEFENSIVE

TACKLES INT INT YDS FF FR BLOCKED PUNTS
SENIOR (3 games) -- 2 -- 1 -- --
JUNIOR (1 game) 8 1 -- -- -- 1
SOPHOMORE 1 5 39 2 1
FRESHMAN 0 0 0 0 0 0

OFFENSIVE

RUSH YDS AVG TD REC YDS AVG TD
SENIOR - N/A
JUNIOR - INJURED -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
SOPHOMORE 1 4 4 0 13 245 18.9 4
FRESHMAN 1 0 0 0 1 14 14 0

Honors Honors

2012 MaxPreps Minnesota Preseason All-State Team

2012 Minnesota Class AA state title in 200 meters (wind-aided 21.90)

2010 All-Classic Suburban Conference Team

Three-time All-Academic selection

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