TB #25

Tahj Brooks

Running Back · Texas Tech

Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher, now carving out a depth and special-teams role behind Cincinnati's veteran backfield.

Tahj Brooks left Texas Tech as the program's career rushing leader, a workhorse who racked up nearly 4,600 yards on the ground over his college career. The Bengals took him in the sixth round of the 2025 draft, and as a rookie he found his early NFL footing more on special teams than as a lead back behind Chase Brown and Samaje Perine.

★ Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher (4,557 career yards)

★ 2023 First-Team All-Big 12

★ First Texas Tech player drafted by the Bengals since 1985

★ Two seasons with 1,500+ rushing yards, a Texas Tech first

Path to the league

Brooks set Texas Tech's all-time records with 879 career rushing attempts and 4,557 rushing yards. He topped 1,500 rushing yards in a season twice, the first Red Raider to do so, and earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2023 while ranking fourth nationally in rushing yards. The Bengals selected him 193rd overall in the sixth round of the 2025 draft, the franchise's first Texas Tech pick since 1985.

Career highlights

Brooks' 4,557 career rushing yards stand as a Texas Tech program record, built on a workload-heavy style that made him one of the most productive backs in Big 12 history. His 2023 season, in which he ranked fourth in the FBS in rushing, remains the signature year of his college career.

2025 season recap

As a rookie, Brooks made Cincinnati's 53-man roster but played a limited offensive role behind Chase Brown and Samaje Perine, finishing with 16 carries for 45 yards and one catch for 9 yards across 16 games and just 47 offensive snaps. He contributed more on special teams, ranking third on the team with 258 kick-return yards.