Brooks selected by Bengals in sixth round of NFL Draft
April 26, 2025 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher, Tahj Brooks, was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday by the Cincinnati Bengals. Brooks was the 193rd overall pick, and the first by the franchise since Joe Walter in 1985 and the third Red Raider selected in Bengals' franchise history.
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"I'm very blessed that the Bengals organization drafted me," said Brooks. "It was awesome. It put a smile to my face. Me and the running backs coach (Justin Hill) go very well. He was a guy that recruited me in college and I'm glad I got to be back with him."
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The Bengals' prolific offense, guided by pro bowlers Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, adds Texas Tech's most productive running back in school history, racking up 4,557 career rushing yards over his 56 collegiate games. In his final game of his prolific career, Brooks eclipsed 1,500 rushing yards in a season for the second time in his career, becoming the first Red Raider to have multiple seasons of 1,500 rushing yards. He also set a program record with 23 career 100-yard rushing games among numerous other records.Â
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Synonymous with 100-yard games, Brooks is the 100th Red Raider selected in the modern-era NFL Draft (since 1970). Furthermore, while Texas Tech has enjoyed numerous selections in recent history, Brooks is the first Red Raider running back selected in the NFL Draft since DeAndre Washington was picked by the Raiders in the fifth round of the 2016 draft and the 11th running back overall selected in the modern era draft.Â
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The Bengals' OTA offseason workouts take place May 27-29 and June 2-4, while mandatory minicamp weekend is June 10-12.
The 2025 draft concluded with two Red Raiders hearing their respective names called as Brooks joined Caleb Rogers, who was drafted on Friday night in the third round by the Las Vegas Raiders. The duo gave the Red Raiders multiple draft picks in five of the last six drafts.
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"I'm very blessed that the Bengals organization drafted me," said Brooks. "It was awesome. It put a smile to my face. Me and the running backs coach (Justin Hill) go very well. He was a guy that recruited me in college and I'm glad I got to be back with him."
Â
The Bengals' prolific offense, guided by pro bowlers Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, adds Texas Tech's most productive running back in school history, racking up 4,557 career rushing yards over his 56 collegiate games. In his final game of his prolific career, Brooks eclipsed 1,500 rushing yards in a season for the second time in his career, becoming the first Red Raider to have multiple seasons of 1,500 rushing yards. He also set a program record with 23 career 100-yard rushing games among numerous other records.Â
Â
Synonymous with 100-yard games, Brooks is the 100th Red Raider selected in the modern-era NFL Draft (since 1970). Furthermore, while Texas Tech has enjoyed numerous selections in recent history, Brooks is the first Red Raider running back selected in the NFL Draft since DeAndre Washington was picked by the Raiders in the fifth round of the 2016 draft and the 11th running back overall selected in the modern era draft.Â
Â
The Bengals' OTA offseason workouts take place May 27-29 and June 2-4, while mandatory minicamp weekend is June 10-12.
The 2025 draft concluded with two Red Raiders hearing their respective names called as Brooks joined Caleb Rogers, who was drafted on Friday night in the third round by the Las Vegas Raiders. The duo gave the Red Raiders multiple draft picks in five of the last six drafts.
The moment dreams became reality ?? https://t.co/izzupXOB3w pic.twitter.com/XBj21uRSVO
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) April 26, 2025
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