Why Ryan Grubb felt Alabama freshman wide receiver would have breakout game vs. Oklahoma

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Everyone was talking about Lotzier Brooks, as the freshman receiver pulled in a pair of touchdowns to help lead No. 9 Alabama to a 34-24 win at No. 8 Oklahoma to kick off the College Football Playoff on Friday night.

Those conversations extended into the press box bathroom, where ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit bumped into Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at halftime.

“Man, you were right,” Herbstreit told Grubb. “Brooks is the guy.”

Grubb had previously touted Brooks’ playmaking ability during a chat with Herbstreit before the game. Friday night, the freshman lived up to the billing, leading Alabama with five receptions for 79 yards while coming down with the first two touchdown catches of his college career.

“I just had a feeling,” Grubb said. “I said before the game that I felt like Lotzeir was in a position with this game plan to step up. But we see it every week from 17 on the practice field. … I don’t think there’s anyone on that sideline that was surprised a bit that 17 made those plays. He’s a stud.”

Who knows where Alabama would have been without Brooks against Oklahoma?

After sputtering to three-and-outs on its first three drives of the game, the Tide was in jeopardy of extending that run to four while trailing, 17-0, early in the second quarter. That’s when Brooks got on the end of a third-and-5 pass from quarterback Ty Simpson to extend the drive and keep Alabama’s comeback hopes on life support.

That wasn’t even Brook’s biggest play of the drive. Later in the possession, he finally got the Tide on the board, coming up with a catch on fourth-and-2 from the Oklahoma 10-yard line before breaking through a trio of defenders for a touchdown.

“When I got in the end zone the first time I didn’t know what to do,” Brooks said. “I just started screaming.”

Brooks didn’t stop there either. His next bit of heroics came early in the third quarter when he got his feet down in the end zone for a spinning 30-yard score to give Alabama a 24-17 lead.

Brooks signed with Alabama as a four-star receiver in this year’s class. The New Jersey native entered Friday night with 27 catches for 342 yards over 12 games. Following his breakout performance against Oklahoma, Alabama doesn’t expect him to slow down any time soon.

“The guy, he’s got twitch,” head coach Kalen DeBoer said. “He’s got the ability to separate. And then he’s really good with the ball in his hands. And so, I think you saw a little bit of all that happen, whether it would be on a third down there in the first half. The touchdowns, winning before you catch the ball, and the other one winning after you have the ball in your hands. And so, love the energy he brings.”

Brooks and Alabama (11-3) will look to carry their momentum into the second round of the playoffs, where they will face top-seeded Indiana (13-0) in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. The game is set to kick off at 3 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPN.