Former LSU 5-star transfer Marcel Brooks is heading to TCU

TCU lands a huge transfer linebacker/safety hybrid in Marcel Brooks

Just over two weeks ago, LSU hybrid linebacker/safety Marcel Brooks announced he was heading to the transfer portal after just one season with the Tigers. A former five-star recruit from the state of Texas, Brooks was one of the top players in his class, and took the route many NCAA Football stars have taken: towards clearer waters in the portal as names like Arizona linebacker Tony Fields II, and Central Michigan tight end Tony Poljan have taken similar routes this week.

Now, Brooks is heading back home to Texas, as he has landed his new destination as he continues to play out his collegiate career. A team that originally offered him a year ago, the TCU Horned Frogs have secured the services of Brooks as they continue to look to rebuild back into a competing program.

There have not been any rumblings as to why Brooks wanted out of LSU after just one season, but a move back home is often times a sign of homesickness. However, the Tigers also hired a new defensive coordinator in Bo Pelini this offseason, so there could also be a chance he and Brooks did not see eye-to-eye on his usage moving forward into the future.

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As a true freshman a year ago, Brooks saw limited playing time, tallying just two solo tackles, with a sack and a half, and one and a half tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He was used as a situational pass rusher most predominantly for the Tigers a year ago.

How will Marcel Brooks be used at TCU?

Now, he heads to TCU under defensive coordinator Chad Glasgow who runs predominantly a 4-2-5 defense, meaning he uses five defensive backs to just two linebackers. This could give Brooks three options where Brooks could play given his versatility: he could be the fifth defensive back playing a big nickel role, he could be a full time linebacker, or he could play over the top at the third level (least likely scenario).

At 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, Brooks has great length and all of the potential in the world; for his sake, hopefully Glasgow gets him to his ceiling. There has been no news as to whether or not Brooks will receive immediate eligibility in order to play right away in 2020.