Everywhere you looked, there was Antoine Brooks Jr.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ strong-side linebacker registered five defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, two sacks and two pass knockdowns during Friday’s CFL game against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“I felt like I was in the element in that game,” Brooks Jr. said after Tuesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “I just think the little kid in me was coming back out.
“I was having fun and just maintaining what I need to do, just to be successful. Honestly, I felt I was mostly successful last week, so that’s why I was having as much fun as I was.”
The fun began on Oct. 3, when Brooks Jr. marked his first CFL start as a linebacker by scoring on an 85-yard interception return in addition to making three defensive tackles (one for a loss) and one special teams stop in a 20-13 victory over the host Ottawa REDBLACKS.
The tackling tally was identical one week later, when the Roughriders defeated the visiting Toronto Argonauts 27-19 to clinch first place in the CFL’s overall standings and nail down hosting privileges for the Western Final (Nov. 8, 5:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
Then came Friday’s command performance in Winnipeg — his best game, statistically, in nine regular-season appearances (one last season; eight this year).
“Once you start going over the playbook and start watching film and start seeing stuff multiple times, it’s going to seem fun,” said Brooks Jr., who started one game at cornerback in July.
“It’s going to make the whole game just slow down for you. Then things just happen.”
Oh, do they ever.
“He’s a heck of a football player,” Roughriders Head Coach and Defensive Co-ordinator Corey Mace said. “We’ve seen it since he’s been here.
“It’s great for him to be able to get out there and make some plays for the team. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get the win, because he had a heck of a game.”
Brooks Jr.’s passion for the game drives him to play it virtually any time of year at a variety of positions. So far, he has not been spotted in offensive line sessions, but …
“If I was 300 pounds, I’d probably be playing there, too,” the 5-foot-11, 215-pounder, who hails from Lanham, Md., said with a laugh.
“I’ll work on my DB stuff, but my fun side of conditioning is offence. I’ll go over there and start doing juke moves and start doing drills — running back stuff, like coming out of the backfield.”
He even has a number (33) that is commonly assigned to a running back.
“I’ll go to receiver, just doing the routes, and that’s mostly my conditioning,” Brooks Jr. continued leading up to Saturday’s regular-season finale against the visiting B.C. Lions. “I run routes all the time. That’s where all that elusiveness and agility come from.
“In the off-season, I’ll also play flag football, too. Flag football is a way I connect with my brother, Jalen. My little brother is very good at football.
“That’s another reason why I play hard as hell and have as much fun as I can, because I know my brother is watching.
“Everything really comes from my brother. I love him to death and it’s really what makes me happy, knowing that he’s watching me and making sure I’m playing well.
“He’s the toughest critic I’ve got. He’ll tell me if I dropped a pick or missed a tackle. I can’t do anything terrible. He won’t let me see the day.
“He always keeps me on my toes, too, because I know that if he is watching, everybody at home is watching, too.”