Michiko Araki
First year nose tackle Mic’hael Brooks is making an impact quite early in his time with the BC Lions.
Currently ranked third on the team in tackles after Lions linebacking duo Adam Bighill and Solomon Elimimian, Brooks is focused on making a lasting impression with his teammates and contributing to the success of the team.
“I want to prove myself,” he says. “I want to prove that I belong on the team as a starter – I want to show that I belong [on this team].”
If what he’s been doing so far is an indication of the season he’ll have this year, he is sure to be an impact player for the team this season. Week in and week out, Michael puts in a lot of work to be able to play against some of the best in the league.
“What motivates me is competition,” he says. “One of my biggest things is being competitive. I love to line up against other people and show that I’m better – show that I’m a better football player. That competition is one thing that really drives me.”
Mic’hael’s football story is an interesting one, to say the least. The Durham, North Carolina tackle first began playing football in grade five at the suggestion of his father.
“My dad said I was getting too big sitting around the house, so he wanted me to get into sports, and that’s how I started,” he laughs.
Since then, football has played a huge role in his life. Although he admittedly never had aspirations of playing professionally at a young age, his talents naturally led him on a road to play at the college level, and finally, in the pros.
“It kinda just happened. When I was in high school, my mom’s a teacher, so she was all about grades. So when I was in high school, I finished with a 3.89 GPA, so I was going to college regardless. My sophomore year, I had like 130 tackles and around 8-10 sacks. I got letters and letters and people just started offering me scholarships, so she was like ‘I guess you’re going this way!’”
After weighing out his options, Mic’heal eventually ended up at East Carolina University, where he played for four seasons with the Pirates. With the Pirates, he won his first conference championship as a true freshman, and continued his freshman championship winning ways even after making it to the NFL, where he played for two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.
“I won my conference championship my first year in college, and I won my first Super Bowl in my first year in the NFL – maybe this year we’ll win the Grey Cup,” he says, cheerfully. “My goal for the season is just to give it my best, take it far as we can and hopefully get a Grey Cup – but if not, just take it as far as we can take it!”
With a rookie championship winning streak like that, perhaps Mic’hael will be an extra good luck charm for the team as they work their way towards the Grey Cup this season!