Brooks’ big play

LSU senior safety Greg Brooks was presented a game ball from Coach Brian Kelly after making an interception that sealed the Tigers’ 21-17 victory at Auburn last Saturday night.

Auburn had driven to the LSU 36 and had second and 11 with 2:25 left when quarterback quarterback Robby Ashford passed to Kok Moore over the middle at the 32.

Brooks, a transfer from Arkansas, took the ball from Moore, a transfer from LSU, and returned it to the Auburn 46.

LSU then was able to run out the clock.

“I think they counted it as an interception, but the ball was in fact completed in our eyes,” Kelly said. “Greg just took it out of [Moore’s] hands, so just a great individual play.”

It was the fifth career interception for Brooks, who had four with the Razorbacks, including a 69yard touchdown return in Arkansas’ 21-14 victory at Mississippi State in 2020.

“I think Greg’s a very smart player,” Kelly said. “That route had been run a few times and in an earlier timeout we were reminded about some plays that they were likely to come back to, and that was one of them.

“So Greg was sitting on the route, and he was ready for it and just made a great play.”

Brooks, a Louisiana native, decided to transfer to LSU after last season.

“Greg’s a very experienced SEC player, so to have a guy in that position for us that we got through the transfer portal paid great dividends for us in that game,” Kelly said. “That obviously was a gamechanger play he made for us.”

Kelly said Brooks, who moved from nickel back to safety this season and has 18 tackles, deserved the game ball.

“Greg’s been asked to do a lot of things for us, and we just thought that this was the culmination of his unselfish play all year,” Kelly said. “Then the last play he made was the biggest play.”