Cariel Brooks (born April 24, 1991) is an American former professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
cornerback
A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover Wide receiver, receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such Play from scrimmage, offensive running plays as sweep ...
. He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
at
Adams State. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...
of the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL).
Early life
Brooks attended
Miami Carol City High School. While there he was a second-team All-conference selection in
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
. He was also an All-conference selection in
track & field
Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and ...
.
College career
Brooks then attended
Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College (PCC) is a Public college, public community college in Pasadena, California. It was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College.
History
Pasadena City College was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. It originally o ...
in 2011 before transferring to
Adams State University
Adams State University is a public university in Alamosa, Colorado, United States. The university's Adams State Grizzlies athletic teams compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
History
Adams State was founded in 1921 as a normal scho ...
. As a sophomore in 2012, he appeared in eight games. He recorded 21
tackles
Tackle may refer to:
* In football:
** Tackle (football move), a play in various forms of football
** Tackle (gridiron football position)
A tackle is a playing position in American football. Historically, in the one-platoon system prevalent ...
(15 solo), one
tackle-for-loss, two
interception
In Ball game, ball-playing Competitive sport, competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for ...
s and seven
passes defensed. In 2013, as a junior, he appeared in 11 games. He recorded 38 tackles and three interceptions.
As a senior in 2014, he appeared in 10 games and recorded three interceptions.
Professional career
Arizona Cardinals
After going unselected in the
2015 NFL draft
The 2015 NFL draft was the 80th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football, football players. It took place in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre and in Grant Park (Chicago), Grant Park ...
, Brooks was signed by the
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...
. He was released on September 5 and two days later he was signed to the Cardinals'
practice squad
In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...
. On October 14, 2015, he was promoted to the Cardinals' active roster. He appeared in three games for the Cardinals, recording one
special teams
In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their position. Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitu ...
tackle. On November 11, he was placed on
injured reserve
The injured reserve list ( IR list) is a designation used in North American professional sports leagues for athletes who suffer injuries and become unable to play. The exact name of the list varies by league; it is known as "injured reserve" in ...
with an ankle injury. He was released from injured reserve on December 29. He signed a futures contract on January 27, 2016. On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Cardinals.
Toronto Argonauts
Brooks signed with the
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Argonauts compete in the East Division (CFL), East Division of t ...
of the
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...
(CFL) on March 14, 2017. He was released by the Argonauts on June 18, 2017.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
On August 8, 2017, Brooks was signed to the practice roster of the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...
of the CFL. He was promoted to the active roster on August 13, and was demoted to the practice roster on August 17, 2017.
He re-signed with the Tiger-Cats on January 25, 2021. Brooks was released on February 10, 2023.
Ottawa Redblacks
Brooks signed with the
Ottawa Redblacks
The Ottawa Redblacks (officially stylized as REDBLACKS) (Canadian French, French: ) are a professional Canadian football team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The team plays in the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL ...
on February 14, 2023.
He retired in February 2024.
References
External links
Adams State Grizzlies bioArizona Cardinals bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Cariel
1991 births
Living people
People from Miami Gardens, Florida
Players of American football from Miami-Dade County, Florida
Players of Canadian football from Florida
American football cornerbacks
Canadian football defensive backs
Pasadena City College alumni
Adams State Grizzlies football players
Arizona Cardinals players
Toronto Argonauts players
Hamilton Tiger-Cats players
Ottawa Redblacks players