BY's Brooks heading to East Carolina

YANCEYVILLE, N.C. — Bartlett Yancey defensive tackle Michael Brooks was the center of attention for almost every offensive scheme that opponents would prepare for when facing the Buccaneers in each of the past three seasons. His size and agility always creates problems.

Brooks is taking that potential and talent to Greenville, N.C., to play for East Carolina next season after the 2008 North Carolina All-State selection signed his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday.

“I had (N.C.) State and (North) Carolina and a bunch of other schools, but I like East Carolina because they treated me the best,” Brooks said Wednesday. “They treat everybody nice and I just felt at home in that atmosphere.”

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound lineman is heading to an improving Conference USA school. He brings staggering numbers as well, as the monster in the middle racked up 297 tackles in his three years on the varsity stage. Brooks racked up a career-high 12.5 sacks this past season — 3.5 more than last season — despite constant double- and triple-teams.

“Our defense was pretty much built around what he could do and it took the whole 11 players, but when you got a guy like him playing on the defensive line, it really paid off defensively to have him on our side,” BY coach Jason Phelps said. “He improved as the year went on. He’s got a load of talent and we’re trying to push him in the right direction.”

Part of Brooks’ improvement was a result of the behemoth dropping close to 20 pounds to improve his endurance and speed. While his tackles dropped, his influence was still felt, as he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting for the Triad 3-A Conference on a 2-9 team.

The Pirates’ eyes were already on Brooks. Phelps mentioned that when he took the helm this past summer, Brooks was set on going to East Carolina. After seeing what coach Skip Holtz and his staff were offering, he would not have it any other way for his senior lineman.

“It’s going to be a big step for him and I think that he’ll do really well at the next level,” Phelps said. “He’s got a lot of potential — unlimited potential right now — and hopefully he’ll work hard and turn into the player that he can be. He’s a great kid and good student and I think he’ll do fine.”

The soft-spoken, yet fun-loving Brooks was plenty relieved to get the process over with He was already prepared for Wednesday night’s basketball home game against Western Alamance. While he still has plenty of time left at Bartlett Yancey, college is knocking on the door.

“I’m happy and that’s where I want to go,” Brooks said, “spend four or five years there, get my degree and hopefully play more football.”