It goes without saying, but Tennessee Vols safety Will Brooks is no question a fan favorite. There's always a ton of love for walk-ons, as they're the blue-collar guys who bust their tails off every week in practice to help the team improve.
In Brooks' case, though, he's also making plays on Saturdays, which is awesome to see for Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel. In the 28-18 win over Kentucky on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium, Brooks stepped up in the best way possible for his team.
With the Vols up 14-10 late in the third quarter, Kentucky was driving and looking to potentially take the lead. However, quarterback Gavin Wimsatt, who was in the game for an injured Brock Vandagriff, eyed down his receiver and Brooks made him pay for that. Thanks to WVLT's Rylee Robinson, fans have been given a new look at the Brooks INT and it's simply sensational:
Will Brooks is that guy.
— Rylee Robinson (@ryleerobinsontv) November 3, 2024
His 3rd interception of the season. #Vols pic.twitter.com/zLoPyzcmkR
Will Brooks continues to make plays for the Tennessee Vols defense
Boom! That was INT No. 3 for Brooks on the season and this one truly could not have come at a better time. The Tennessee defense needed someone to come up big with UK looking to score and that's where Brooks was able to deliver.
His return was great too. Had it not been for a full-extension dive from Wimsatt, Brooks would have taken that ball back to the house. Despite not scoring, it still set off a monster celebration from the Vols fans in the stands and rightfully so.
Things didn't go according to plan early on for Tennessee against Kentucky, as sloppy play was showcased on offense, defense and special teams. However, it turned out to be a memorable night in Knoxville, with Brooks' epic pick being among the highlights for this team. The Vols are now 7-1 on the year, with Mississippi State on the schedule next.