PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – To show you how far safety Cruce Brookins has come, Pitt held a 45-play scrimmage consisting of first-team players against first-team players Saturday at Acrisure Stadium and Brookins forced four turnovers.
Granted the conditions favored the defense with at times 30-mile-an-hour winds with a spot of hail, but to get four takeaways (three interceptions and a fumble) in only 45 plays shows you where the Steel Valley High School star’s game has come.
“I feel like I’m always doing my job,” Brookins explained on Monday. “Always being in the right position. Always knowing the coverages, knowing what we are trying to do and why we are doing it. Being in the right spot at the right time.”
He showed flashes of it last year as a redshirt freshman. He played in 12 games with a pair of interceptions and passes defensed to go with 35 tackles (26 solo). His first interception was against West Virginia and he had a pair of four-tackle games midway through the season, but then the numbers fell off until a pick and career-high six tackles against Toledo.
“Cruce Brookins is doing a heck of a job,” said Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi. “I think midway through the year he hit a freshman wall last year. He made the comment it’s a long season. You think about a high school player coming out and playing a lot for us, especially on third down. He’s had a great spring so far.”
“Keep that up, Cruce is looking good.”
Brookins said he learned a lot last season and even into the offseason from safety Donovan McMillon, another WPIAL alum. He said they play a similar, physical style. McMillon helped him with his tackling, but just as important, how the now NFL hopeful processed the game.
Narduzzi can see a confidence now with Brookins and the Pitt head coach believes that comes from time and experience. He said he wished Brookins had played at the end of last season the way he is now. Just a locked-in safety that really understands what the defense is trying to accomplish and not just his position, but knowing what everyone’s responsibilities are.
Brookins is one of the players who brings energy to the Pitt defense, similar to junior, All-ACC linebacker Kyle Louis. Brookins and Louis are competing this spring for who gets the most turnovers, so far, they are tied. He said they don’t have anything riding on the bet other than pride and pushing each other to be better.
“He’s a dude,” said Pitt junior receiver Kenny Johnson of Brookins. “He’s an NFL guy, I know that for sure. That’s why I love competing with Cruce because I know I’m going to see him at the next level. He’s one of those guys that show up to work every single day.
No matter what period it is, he’s going to be there to work.”
“I love that because I know I’m going to get better. I know for sure whenever I go against Cruce, I’m going to get better.”
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot over these past three years,” Brookins said.
Brookins was a star quarterback and defensive back as a senior in high school, accounting for 41 touchdowns on offense and six interceptions on defense helping the Ironmen win a state title.
Now he’s comfortable with his game again and out there just making plays.