Zac Brooks weighs in

Brooks says that he could drink milkshakes and eat Dunkin Donuts all day and not gain an ounce. (TigerNet Staff)

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Tue Aug 06 16:16:46 GMT-04:00 2013

CLEMSON – Those of us who have to count calories and watch everything little thing we eat wish we were as lucky as Clemson running back Zac Brooks.

The rising sophomore stopped to chat with the media following Monday’s practice, and admitted that he has only two percent body fat and struggles to put on weight. Brooks came to Clemson from Jonesboro (AR) as a 6-1, 178-pounder, but says he sits firmly at 197 pounds as fall practice begins.

His goal is 200 pounds – that is the weight the coaches would like to see him play at – and he does everything in his power to put on good weight, but admits he has trouble putting on the pounds. Brooks says that he could drink milkshakes and eat Dunkin Donuts all day and not gain an ounce.

The rest of us should be so lucky, but Brooks said Monday evening that he was already back down to 195 pounds, and knew what was waiting for him once practice ended – three yogurts, three fruit cups and a Gatorade.

And, once he got back to his apartment, a milkshake or two and deal with text messages from the football staff who remind to keep eating and drinking.

“The plan is just to go forward,” Brooks said Monday night. “I just have to keep doing what I am doing. I have a refrigerator at home full of milkshakes ready to go right now. And the coaches keep sending me text messages to get me to eat. I don't think anybody drinks more milkshakes than I do.”

Brooks said he realizes that with the graduation of Andre Ellington, his opportunity to play is now, and he is doing everything in his power to make sure he gets on the field. Included in that is a deeper understanding of the playbook – he says he knows the plays inside and out – and recognizing when he makes a mistake.

"When you can see yourself making a mistake and you can tell the coach, 'I did that,' that's growth," Brooks said. "I'm recognizing what I'm doing more, the things I'm doing wrong and I'm learning how to fix my own mistakes."

He said he believes the coaches know what he can do if given the chance.

“I know I've worked hard enough to put out more than what I put out last year," he said. "I really believe the coaches have more confidence in me because I've shown them more. I've performed and I've shown preparation more than I did last year."

I asked Brooks if he looked at this as his chance to be a starter, and he said he looked at this season as a chance to be a part of special group.

"I think this is going to be the best corps of running backs Clemson has ever seen," he said. "We're just a close group of backs and we feed off one another's energy. We're like brothers. It ain't even like a competition. We're just pushing to make each other better. It ain't just about playing for the position; it's about playing for the team. That's how we work."