— Cornerback Terrance Brooks signed a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid with the University of Illinois and will join the Fighting Illini program as a transfer, head coach Bret Bielema announced. Brooks comes to Champaign from Texas, where he started 16 career games and was an All-Big XII honorable mention selection last season.
“We are excited to bring Terrance to Illinois,” said Bielema. “He is an extremely talented player with valuable experiences as an all-conference college football player from a football family. As soon as we got him to campus, we knew we could provide a great match for what Terrance was looking for in a University, football program, and community. We’re excited to get him here to join our Illini famILLy.”
Brooks started 13 games for Texas last season, helping the Longhorns to a Big XII Championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff. He totaled 20 tackles, six passes defended, and three interceptions on the season, while finishing in the top 20 of Power-5 cornerbacks with a 58.7 passer rating against, according to PFF (min. 500 snaps).
“Thank you to Coach Bielema and Coach Henry for the opportunity to join the Illini famILLy,” said Brooks. “I can’t wait to get back to Champaign to get to work.”
Brooks has a strong football lineage, as his father, Chet, played safety at Texas A&M and for three years in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. Chet was part of two Super Bowl teams in San Francisco.
“I think, from a coaching perspective, the Illinois staff fit what Terrance was looking for based off what he has learned in college football,” said Chet. “Coach Bielema and Coach Henry have a proven track record of development with trust, truth, and transparency. They have turned no-star guys into NFL players. We’re really looking forward to this journey.”
