Brooks playing the waiting game

Flagstaff (Ariz.) two-way standout James Brooks was as shocked as anyone when Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter was let go back in November. The Sun Devils are still high on his list but Brooks has a couple of other trips lined up in the meantime.

Brooks, 6-6, 260 pounds is one of the top players in the West region this year at two positions. He could play tight end or defensive end in college and put up big numbers on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, Brooks caught 44 balls for 836 yards and 11 touchdowns and added 92 tackles and 13 sacks on defense.

"Most schools are recruiting me for defense but I'll play anywhere," Brooks said. "I really don't have a preference between the two, I'll do whatever gets me on the field the fastest."

Brooks tripped to ASU (Nov. 17) and the Sun Devils have been the team to beat for some time. He had built up a very good relationship with Coach Koetter and was more than a little surprised when the former coach was let go.

"I had a great trip to ASU," Brooks said. "I really enjoyed myself and ASU was definitely at the top of my list. Then just one week later, he was fired. I couldn't believe it and was pretty disappointed because I liked coach Koetter a lot.

"I'm not going to say if he was still there I would have already committed there, but things were definitely going in that direction. My mom liked the school and staff a lot too. Right now, I'm still high on them and Coach Stretz has kept in contact with me.

"Hopefully they hire a good coach and they still want me to be a part of the program there but I'm keeping all my options open right now. I have a visit with San Diego State set for (Dec. 15) and Utah (Jan. 19).

"I had a good in-home visit with Utah last week and that's when I set up that visit. UNLV is coming in this Sunday for a visit and they're hoping to get me out for a visit as well. San Diego State is coming by next week. I have a basketball tournament this weekend, that's why I'm not visiting anywhere until the San Diego State visit."