Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes was asked how he would handle the injury to Tucker Ashcraft if the star tight end were to miss games. Grimes gave an elaborate answer about other tight ends stepping up, more running back sets, but then a surprising answer, which included having Chris Brooks step in. According to Grimes, Brooks is the 'best blocking receiver' he's ever seen.
"We've got plenty of receivers that I think can play and we've got receivers that we can use to do some of the jobs that tight ends would normally do. We've got some really physical blockers at receiver. Chris Brooks in particular comes to mind and can do a lot of the things that a tight end does. He's maybe the best blocking receiver that I've been around. Really, really good. "Jeff Grimes
This is high praise for Chris Brooks, who hasn't fully found a consistent role in the receivers' rotation. He's played mostly on special teams and is now going into his redshirt junior year. He is looking for an opportunity, and Grimes may have just found it for him. He can be that edge-setting receiver in the right looks, a role usually occupied by a tight end.
Chris Brooks receives high praise for his physical ability by Jeff Grimes
With the ability to get out and make a catch and run over the middle in a physical environment with linebackers draped all over, Brooks may be just the guy.
He's 6'2 and 222 pounds, so he's slightly undersized, which is why he's a receiver more than a tight end, but if he doesn't mind chipping linebackers and setting edges, he could slide nicely into that role that Ashcraft's injury has opened up. Though for comparison, Ashcraft is 6'5 and 257 pounds, so there's a clear difference.
Grimes is clearly impressed with Brooks' ability, as he was the only player to get a specific shoutout when talking about how they will work without Ashcraft. It wasn't another tight end or even a running back, the name that came to Grimes' head was an unlikely receiver who happens to be an exceptional blocker.
The good news is that it's nice to see Brooks find a role and the excitement that he's an exceptional blocker. The bad news is that the coaching staff is clearly already preparing to be without Ashcraft for at least a couple of games.