Looking at Ja'Corey Brooks' college career before and after his transfer to Louisville

Having entered college as a five-star prospect, Ja'Corey Brooks was once a key piece on the Alabama Crimson Tide offense. After a solid freshman season in 2021, he became a centerpiece of the offense, finishing third on the team in receptions with 39, second in receiving yards with 674 and first in touchdown catches with eight.

However, that turned out to be the peak of his career at Alabama, and over the next year, he would start on a path that would lead him to transfer to Louisville in late 2023. Brooks' production for the Tide fell off significantly in 2022 because he had a lingering shoulder injury that limited him to three games. In those outings, he only had three receptions for 30 yards.

Ja'Corey Brooks opted to enter the transfer portal in December 2023 after Alabama's season ended. The move also came in the final season of Nick Saban's coaching career. Brooks has not come out publicly stating specific reasons for why he decided to enter the transfer portal.

Regardless of his reasons, Brooks spent two weeks in the transfer portal before he chose to transfer to Louisville. The Cardinals are known for having a pass-oriented offense and helping wide receivers achieve success after transferring. As a result, it is not surprising to see a former star like Brooks choose to transfer there.

How has Ja'Corey Brooks performed in his first season with Louisville?

The decision to transfer to Louisville has proved to be a smart one for Ja'Corey Brooks. Through its first six games, the Cardinals have achieved a 4-2 record and are competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Although the team is not likely to win the conference, Brooks has been a big part in helping Louisville achieve success this season.

The season is only around the halfway point, and Brooks has nearly matched his career-high numbers from 2022. He has 30 receptions for 572 yards and six touchdowns. He also set a career high for his longest reception at 86 yards.

On two occasions this season, Brooks has had over 100 receiving yards. He had four receptions for 125 yards in a 31-19 win over Georgia Tech on Sept. 21, and three receptions for 121 yards in a 34-27 loss to SMU.

It will be interesting to see how high Ja'Corey Brooks can get his stats. Counting the Week 8 game against No. 6-ranked Miami, the Cardinals have six games left this season. With a few strong weeks, he could break 1000 yards.