Shane Brooks doesn't think much of the May evaluation process, particularly the camps where so much emphasis is placed on a stopwatch.
The Duquesne High School tailback prefers to be judged by what he does when he's wearing a helmet and pads, when the brutality and physicality of football come into play.
That's not just his excuse for running the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds at both the Nike Training Camp at Penn State and the Metro Index camp last week.
"When I'm on the field, I move much faster than in these drills," Brooks said. "Camps are for little people who run around and catch the ball. To evaluate me, you have to put the equipment on."
The 5-foot-11 1/2, 220-pounder stood out last season, averaging almost 9 yards per carry while rushing for 1,591 yards and 16 touchdowns. Based on his game film, Pitt, Akron, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Syracuse, Virginia and West Virginia have offered scholarships.
Brooks rushed for 100 yards or more in all but one game as a junior -- he had 98 vs. Brentwood -- and ran for 200-plus against Leechburg (223), Wilkinsburg (219) and Chartiers-Houston (207).
"He has power and speed," Duquesne coach Pat Monroe said. "He has legitimately squatted 600 pounds. That's an unheard of amount for a running back, at any level. If me, you and another guy jump on his back, he's going to be OK."
Perhaps a better example of Brooks' durability and toughness comes on defense, where he plays nose guard.
"I like playing down there," Brooks said. "You've only got one responsibility, to blow up whoever is in front of your face."
Adds Monroe: "No one can block him with one person. And he shares the holding duties for extra points, then turns around and runs for 1,600 yards at tailback. There's not too many who can do that."
His defensive feats aside, Brooks' rushing feats fit the job description at Duquesne. After all, he inherited the position from a 2,000-yard rusher in Windell Brown, who inherited it from all-time rushing leader Todd Harris.
There was a time Brooks, a Duquesne resident, thought he'd never play for the Dukes. He attends Wilson Christian Academy in West Mifflin, and plays through a co-operative agreement. As a freshman, he played for South Allegheny and rushed for 513 yards.
Brooks learned a lesson as a sophomore at Duquesne, when he sat behind Brown. Some of his current success comes from having to fight to keep backup Layton Dunn, a talented sophomore, off the field.
"Just sitting behind Windell and seeing what he does, that makes you a better player," Brooks said. "At Duquesne, they just keep coming up. For Todd to put Windell on the bench, he must have been pretty special. And for Windell to put me on the bench, he must have been pretty special.
"You just keep going on down the line."
With 2,415 career yards, Brooks has set his sights on not only joining Harris in the 4,000-yard club but on passing Brown's single-season school record (2,008).
"I want to rush for 2,500 yards," Brooks said, "If I do that, our team should be able to get anywhere we want to go."
Brooks should be able to write his own ticket, as well.
