Mar 06, 2018
NFL's Brandon Brooks '11 is Miami 2018 spring commencement speaker
Brandon Brooks
Philadelphia Eagles guard and Miami University alumnus Brandon Brooks ’11 will address graduates and families at Miami University’s 179th spring commencement ceremony, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at Yager Stadium.Brooks, an integral part of the team that won the 2018 Super Bowl, was named to the NFL’s Pro Bowl this season.
Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Brooks’ community involvement, continued pursuit of advanced higher education, and public support for mental health awareness distinguish him among other NFL stars.
The 6-feet-5-inch Milwaukee native was his team's player of the year as a junior and senior at Riverside University High School, He played for Miami from 2008-2011 and earned second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors three of those years.
In 2016, Brooks returned to campus with a gift to support the new Athletic Performance Center, specifically the Offensive Line Team Meeting Room.
"I can never repay what Miami has done for me," Brooks said then. "What it means to me is truly Love and Honor – love for the game, love for the school, love for the coaches and fans. And honor. It's an honor to be able to come back to campus and give something back."
Brooks was a member of the 2010 RedHawk team that completed the single biggest turnaround in college football history – from 1-11 in 2009 to 10-4 – on the way to a MAC championship and GoDaddy.com Bowl title.
With a Miami bachelor’s degree in psychology, Brooks began pursuing an MBA at the University of Houston, and during the 2014 Houston Texans’ offseason, he interned at a bank. He is following the example of his mother, who earned a master’s degree while working full time. Dorothy Brooks told a reporter Brandon is learning Spanish and completing internships in different fields.
Brooks also has been transparent about his continuing battle with anxiety, determined that his openness will help others.
"The biggest thing for me this season, bigger than making the Pro Bowl to be honest, I was able to go through a season without having an episode," Brooks told reporters recently. "That's the greatest accomplishment I've had this season.
“People talk to me on the streets, players in the locker room and not just ours but across the league have spoken to me and say they go through similar things,” he added. “It's nice to hear someone speak out about it. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength."