According to his twitter account (we were told from someone with access to his tweets), Western Kentucky cornerback Derrius Brooks contacted about a possible private workout with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Hilltopper tweets:
Got a call from the Bengals today. Said they might want me to come do a private workout!!!!"
Though not listed in the Scout, Inc. top-150 at cornerback, Brooks recorded seven interceptions in his final two seasons at Western Kentucky, named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team with a second-best (in the conference) four interceptions last season. Brooks is a converted wide receiver and spent the last two seasons playing cornerback for the first time in his career, starting the final eight games.
Rob Rang with CBSSports.com writes of Brooks during his Pro Day earlier this month:
Brooks, who incidentally led the Hilltoppers in interceptions after each of the two seasons in which he played defense (seven total through 2010-2011), was reportedly timed at 4.29 and 4.35 seconds in two attempts at the 40-yard dash. Each would have been ranked as the fastest time recorded at the 2012 Combine.
Though he's a relatively unknown that's starting to generate interest, it's his raw athleticism that could get him into the NFL. And if the Bengals select him late during the NFL Draft, or sign him as an undrafted free agent, he could have time to develop under Leon Hall and Nate Clements.
However for those of you thinking that this would be Cincinnati's cornerback game-plan, step away from the bridge. We have every expectation in the world that the Bengals will use one of their two first-round draft picks to select one of the top cornerback prospects.