Senior cornerback Ron Brooks makes most of starter role

There aren't many teams that can lose two starting cornerbacks without missing a beat.

No. 1 LSU is an exception.

Without the services of suspended sophomore cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon, LSU coach Les Miles called upon senior cornerback Ron Brooks to fill the void.

In only the second start of his five-year career, Brooks shined Saturday against No. 20 Auburn, finishing with four tackles, half a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and an interception.

"When Coach told me I was going to be starting, it was like a bittersweet thing," Brooks said. "That's what you work your entire career to do, to become a regular starter. But I was sad that my teammates were out and weren't going to be able to get a chance to play this game."

Brooks, who commemorated Mathieu and Simon by writing their numbers on his arm, had big shoes to fill.

Through the first seven games this season, Mathieu racked up one and a half sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and was second on the team with 42 tackles.

Simon totaled 29 tackles, two and a half for loss and an interception.

Sophomore safety Eric Reid called Brooks' performance "a blessing" in Mathieu and Simon's absence.

"He's a senior, so he knew this was his opportunity to show scouts that he wants to go to the NFL," Reid said. "[Mathieu and Simon] were big contributors. Thankfully we get them back this week, but we were able to get victory without them still. [Brooks] played big, and thank goodness he did."

But the highlight of Brooks' performance came midway through the third quarter, when he picked off Auburn sophomore quarterback Clint Moseley's pass and took it 28 yards to the end zone to add to LSU's growing lead, 42-3.

"It was a very special game to me, and I took it to heart," Brooks said. "I've had people talk to me and tell me great things are going to happen and God is going to make a way for me. So when all that happened, it really made me want to cry. It was like seeing the fruits of my labor."

The Irving, Texas, native saw action in each game this season, mostly on the special teams units, compiling 10 tackles, one for a loss, and half a sack.

Tiger fans may know Brooks best for pumping up the crowd before kickoffs – a move he said gets him hyped in return.

"Whether it's going out there on defense and playing or going out there on special teams, whatever I'm called to do, I'm going to do it with all my heart," Brooks said. "I feed off the crowd, and I love the crowd's energy. When the crowd is hyped, I'm hyped. I try to get them into the game just as much as I am, and that helps me go out there and give it my all even more."

Brooks said he spoke with several people before the game, including former LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis, who shared some last-minute prayers and pointers.

But the last voice Brooks heard before taking the field was 19-year-old Rolando Thorne, a friend Brooks said he met through Facebook and developed a brotherly bond with through the years.

"He's like my little brother," Brooks said. "I prayed with him two minutes before we went out on the field on the phone. He told me that God touched my life and he had a plan for me and I was going to go out here and do special things. He really spoke some things into my life that really helped me out this week and helped me to focus and relax and just play ball and make my life better."

Whatever Thorne said must have worked.

Brooks and the rest of the LSU defense held the visiting Tigers to 248 total yards, including 161 through the air – 14 yards fewer than their 176.7 yard average.

"[Brooks] played extremely well," Miles said. "He was looking forward to playing the game that he had put himself in position to play with training and the want to contribute to this team. I'm really happy for him. He deserved the game that he got."

____

Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com