South Carolina Football: Ranking the greatest Gamecock hidden gems in NFL Draft history
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football's Greatest NFL Draft Hidden Gems:
No. 7 Wide Receiver Robert Brooks
South Carolina native Robert Brooks (Round 3, Pick 62; Green Bay Packers; 1992 NFL Draft) wasn't even a wide receiver when he got to college, but he went on to become a legend in the National Football League after converting from running back to receiver during his time in Columbia.
Brooks was a really good receiver for some underwhelming South Carolina football teams after the graduation of Sterling Sharpe, and the Green Bay Packers liked him so much that they brought him in to partner with Sharpe. However, just as Brooks was coming into his own as a pro, Sharpe suffered a career-ending neck injury, and Brooks became the man in Green Bay.
The very next season, Brooks had his best year in the NFL, tallying 102 catches, over 1500 yards of offense, and 13 receiving touchdowns. He also tied an all-time record with a 99-yard touchdown catch-and-run from a young Brett Favre.
Injuries became an issue for Brooks as he was able to put up just one more 1000-yard season, but he was viewed as one of the best teammates in football and was given a lot of credit for the Packers' Super Bowl win after the 1996 season despite the fact that he was injured and missed the game.
Brooks is now in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. That's not too bad for a 3rd round pick.