Despite an injury in high school that threatened his football future, Maryland safety Antoine Brooks overcame the odds and became one of the Big Ten’s best back-end defenders.

One of the most promising safety prospects in the 2020 NFL draft, Brooks recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his impressive career at Maryland, his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, and why a team should take a chance on him in this year’s draft.

JM: You were voted second-team All-Big Ten multiple times by the coaches in your conference. What does that mean to you, and what does it say about your leadership skills?

AB: It felt great. It’s a great feeling to be voted on by your coaches. It’s good to know that they’re watching you work and that they appreciate it. It was a great moment for me. I take pride in being a leader. I take a hands-on approach when it comes to leadership. I don’t yell at anybody. I’m not a loud-mouth kinda leader. I take a more personal approach. I rather pull you aside and discuss things. That’s how I lead. I’m excited for what’s next.

JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?

AB: It was one of the best experiences of my life. You always dream about going to the combine. It was a moment in my life that I had anticipated for a very long time. It’s more mental than anything. Everybody sees the on-field physical aspect but it’s more of a mental thing to me. You just gotta grind through it. At the end of the day, I just gotta thank God.

JM: What do you think is the overall impression that you left out there?

AB: I’m a natural in any football environment. I wanted that to shine through. You can’t fake it or force it. I enjoyed the environment and the competition. I don’t see it like other people do. I enjoyed every moment. I wasn’t stressed out about it. I was laughing, smiling and having a good time. I don’t have an ego. I made a lot of friends out there. I was happy to meet so many good people. I’m a social guy. We’re all striving for the same goals right now and there’s room for all of us to succeed.

JM: Did you have many formal or informal interviews out there?

AB: I had a lot of informals. I had a few formals as well. I was definitely making my rounds. I’m blessed for the fact that people wanted to talk to me. I had some great conversations. I’m thankful for those interactions.

JM: I imagine the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted your private visit and workout schedule, but were you able to get any meetings in before everything got shut down?

AB: Unfortunately not. Everything I had scheduled was to take place in a few days time. I didn’t make it to any of my private meetings or workouts. We’ll probably have to FaceTime or something.

JM: Even if they canceled, who were some of the teams that you were scheduled to meet with?

AB: I was supposed to meet with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals.

JM: What was the strangest question that you were asked at the combine?

AB: I was asked how many unread messages do I have in my phone (laughs). I thought that was pretty funny. I don’t have many of them. Maybe 20 of them (laughs).

JM: Playing at Maryland allowed you to compete against some strong competition. Who are some of the best players you’ve gone up against?

AB: K.J. Hamler is a very good player. J.K. Dobbins is another one that comes to mind. He’s gonna be a great running back at the next level. Ohio State had a lot of great players. I’ve played against so many great players. Iowa has had some great tight ends over the years. Honestly, the Big Ten is stacked with talent.

JM: Is there a scheme that you prefer to play in at the next level?

AB: Honestly, it really doesn’t matter to me. I’m a quick learner. I’ve been tested a lot. I feel like I’ve seen it all. I’m a calm guy. I’m ready for whatever’s next. It really doesn’t matter to me.

JM: When a team uses one of their draft picks on Antoine Brooks, what kind of guy are they getting?

AB: They’re getting a laid-back guy that stays out of the way. I’m a leader and I’m ready to play some more football. I’m gonna make an immediate impact. I can’t wait to contribute. No matter what the outcome is, I’m always there ready to go.