PEARCY -- Lake Hamilton senior defensive tackle Josh Brooks signed his national letter of intent to play college football at Lyon College Wednesday.
Lake Hamilton head coach Tommy Gilleran took the podium in Wolf Arena to talk about Brooks moving on to collegiate football.
"Josh has been a kid who has really worked hard to give himself an opportunity to play college sports," Gilleran said in his speech. "We are really proud of Josh and what he has done here at Lake Hamilton."
Brooks, who is a defensive tackle, made the conversion to the offensive line this season for the Wolves. The 6-2, 265 pounder is built well for both positions. Gilleran said Brooks is a team player.
Video not playing? Click here https://www.youtube.com/embed/HKfdTl96oYw
"He was starting on the D-line all of last year," Gilleran said. "We were a little short on the offensive line, so Josh stepped up and actually played O-line the first seven games and then he got back to his passion on defense. He may be an offensive lineman in college, so we may have helped him out there on that aspect."
Brooks said it feels great to go to the next level.
"It feels really nice," he said. "When you are younger, you always see these guys go do it and say, 'Man, it is so hard to get there. That will never be me.' When you get great opportunities like this man, it is just an amazing feeling."
Brooks said Gilleran has prepared him for the next level of football.
"He has trained me really well," Brooks said. "He has really coached me up. He told me how college is going to be and how the coaches are going to be."
Gilleran said Lyon College has been recruiting Brooks for some time.
"We are proud of Josh," Gilleran said. "He had a good year. They have been on him for a while. I think he plays hard and does things right. He gives himself an opportunity to play at the next level."
Gilleran highlighted Brooks' stats for his career as a Wolf.
"He had 43 total tackles," Gilleran said. "He had six tackles for loss. He had one sack and eight hurries. On offense he had two pancakes and he was just a leader on the field, did everything that was asked of him and he went above and beyond to make himself a better football player and a great teammate."
Being admitted to Lyon College is no easy task. Brooks said he has a 3.5 GPA.
"That is why I am excited about it," Brooks said. "I am going to study medicine. I am going to go into sports medicine."
Brooks said he wants to play defense in college.
"Hopefully defensive lineman," Brooks said. "I might switch around a little bit. It just depends on where they put me."
Gilleran said Brooks turned into a good two-way player for the Wolves this season.
"It is just different aspects of the ball," Gilleran said. "We were just lacking in that this year. He actually stepped over there and played really well for us. We are expecting good things out of him in college. I think he has an opportunity to be really good and he has a lot of fight in him, which makes you a lot better in college."
Brooks said he was excited about the Scots' football program.
"The coaches are amazing," Brooks said. "The coaches are super nice. I have had many talks with them, and they are just super nice coaches."
Gilleran said he has all the physical and mental tools to be successful at the college level.
"He is physically strong, too," Gilleran said. "He does all of the little things. I think that is why I think he will have an opportunity to be successful in college, too. He is a smart kid. He will get a good education there and get a chance to play some football and enjoy that part. It is a win, win for him on that part there."