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Texas Tech Football: How Tahj Brooks compares to other great Tech backs

By Maitland Rutledge

Oct 7, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball upfield against the Baylor Bears during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball upfield against the Baylor Bears during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports /
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DeAndre Washington was the last dominant Texas Tech back

DeAndre Washington Texas Tech
MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 07: DeAndre Washington #21 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in action during the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on November 7, 2015 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

DeAndre Washington was Tech’s last 1,000-yard rusher. In his final season in 2015, he rushed for 1,492 yards and 14 touchdowns. While Patrick Mahomes was coming into his own that season in his first year as the full-time starter, having Washington behind him was comforting.

While the class “super senior” was not in the NCAA vocabulary just yet, Washington could certainly qualify for that label. The Houston native was recruited by Tommy Tuberville and his freshman year in 2011 got off to a promising start. Unfortunately, a knee injury ended his season early.

After redshirting in 2012, he came back but did not break the 500-yard mark playing mostly behind Sadale Foster. His junior year was a breakout season, though. Despite the struggles and a 4-8 season under Kliff Kingsbury, Washington broke the 1,000-yard barrier with 1,103.

Not only did he rush for 1,000 yards in his final season, he led the Big 12 in rushing and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. He ended his tenure as a Red Raider fifth on the school’s all-time rushing list behind Byron Hanspard, James Gray, Ricky Williams, and Bam Morris. That is good Tech football royalty to be associated with.

He was drafted in the fifth round by the Oakland (Las Vegas) Raiders in 2016. He played there through 2019 before being released. He spent the 2020 season in both Kansas City and Miami before calling it a career.

Like Washington, Brooks is small in stature but he packs a punch. The Red Raiders might still be a quarterback-driven offense, but when you have a back that can be shifty and heavily utilized in the passing game, that is a good weapon to have. Both of these backs fit.

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