“A bowling ball with butcher blades surrounding him” — Former Bengals coach shares insight on Cincy’s newest player
Sixth-round draft picks don’t often become key players in the NFL. For every Antonio Brown or Tom Brady, there are countless others whose names fade into obscurity amid the competitive grind.
But Tahj Brooks faces a unique opportunity. The Cincinnati Bengals invested their sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping he will defy the odds and make an impact.
One of Brooks’ former coaches believes this is entirely possible.
Coach reflects on Brooks’ college career
Kenny Perry spent the last three years coaching running backs at Texas Tech, the same period in which Brooks led the Red Raiders in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns. Perry witnessed both Brooks’ spectacular runs on Saturdays and his dedication during the week, solidifying his initial impression of the player when they first met in 2022.
“Well, first off, he looks like a bowling ball with butcher blades around him,” Perry told ESPN1530’s Mo Egger. “I wasn’t sure how good he was at first, but after being around him every day, I knew. I said, ‘Before he leaves here, he’s gonna be one of the greatest in our conference.’ And, you know, I was right.”
Kenny Perry was Tahj Brooks' Running Backs Coach at Texas Tech.
He joined us to talk about the Bengals' sixth round pick in this year's draft…
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Spotify: https://t.co/9yzxmBUAcq pic.twitter.com/w0AohAgBO6— Mo Egger (@MoEgger) May 2, 2025
So how do you stop a “bowling ball with butcher blades around him”? It’s a question that Big 12 defenders might still be trying to figure out.
Brooks’ 4,560 career rushing yards rank as the most in Texas Tech history and the fourth-most in Big 12 history. Only legends like Cedric Benson, Ricky Williams, and Darren Sproles have more.
To reach that level of production, Brooks didn’t just carry the ball 879 times — he stayed healthy and available for the long haul, proving his durability in the process.
“The thing about Tahj that stands out is how well he takes care of his body,” Perry said. “He was always the first one in the building to lift weights, the first one for medical checkups after games, and the first one on the field. Guys like that take care of themselves, and their bodies can handle the punishment.”
While rookies typically need time to adjust to NFL-level strength and conditioning, Brooks appears to be ahead of the curve when it comes to preparing his body for the grind.
That’s all very promising, but perhaps nothing is more encouraging than Perry’s reaction when he learned Brooks was headed to Cincinnati.
“After they picked him, I called him and was literally screaming into the phone,” Perry recalled. “I don’t think he could have ended up on a better team that fits his skill set and how he can help them.”
For a late-round draft pick to outperform expectations, everything needs to align — and Brooks’ mental toughness, physical preparation, and proven production suggest it just might. Add to that a system that utilizes the shotgun and relies on backs to create yards after contact, and it seems like a perfect match.
Now, Perry — along with the rest of Cincinnati — will be watching to see if this pairing is as special as it seems.
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