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'''Derrick Brooks''' is a linebacker in the [[Wikipedia:National Football League|National Football League]] (NFL). In Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003, Brooks was a key member of the [[Wikipedia:Tampa Bay Buccaneers|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] triumphin Super Bowl XXXVII, and won a national championship while on scholarship with [[Wikipedia:Florida State University|Florida State University]]. He played in Pensacola for [[Washington High School|Washington High School]] and then was on scholarship with [[Wikipedia:Florida State University|Florida State University]] before playing later played 14 years for Tampa Bay. Brooks was instrumental in turning the Buccaneers from perennial doormats into eventual [[Wikipedia:Super Bowl|Super Bowl]] champions.
==High School Career==
At [[Wikipedia:Florida State University|Florida State University]] (FSU), Brooks was a four-year letterman from 1991-1994 and was selected first-team All-American his senior year. Brooks was a key element on FSU's first-ever National Championship when the Seminoles defeated Nebraska 18–16 in the 1993 [[Wikipedia:Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]. The Seminoles are coached by legendary [[Wikipedia:Bobby Bowden|Bobby Bowden]]. FSU had suffered their only defeat of the season to a second-ranked Notre Dame team, but their path to the National Championship was cleared a week later when the Irish were upset at home by Boston College. While Brooks was at FSU, the Seminoles won the ACC Championship in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
Due to academic excellence, Brooks graduated early with a 3.8 GPAand earned a communications degree. He later received a master's degree.
===Awards / Honors===
* 2 times: College Football All-America Team (1993, 1994)
* ACC Defensive Player of the Year (1993)
* 2 times: Vince Lombardi Award (nation's best linebacker) finalist (1993, 1994)
==Professional Career==
Brooks was released by the Buccaneers after 14 seasons on February 25, 2009.
On September 17, 2009, Brooks made his TV debut on the ESPN2 program "First Take."
===NFL Awards / Honors===
* NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award (2002)
* Super Bowl Champion (Super Bowl XXXVII)
* Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award (2004)
* Pro Bowl MVP (2006)
==Personal==
'''Derrick Dewan Brooks ''' was born April 18, 1973. He is married to '''Carol Brooks''' and have four children: their daughters '''Brianna Monai''' (11) and '''Denice''' (born September, 2005) and sons, '''Derrick Brooks, Jr.''' (7) and '''Darius Dewan'''.
Brooks has donated much of his money to charity. In addition Brooks donated $1,000 for every tackle he made against the Seahawks (10) which was a total of $10,000. Brooks is the founder of the Brooks Bunch charity and youth scholarship foundation in the Tampa Bay area. He has taken local youngsters across the nation and South Africa with the objective of presenting a first hand experience, or a "mobile classroom." Brooks also headed the founding of the Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School in Tampa.
==External links==
*[http://buccaneers.com/team/playerdetail.aspx?player=Brooks,Derrick,55 Derrick Brooks Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio page]
* [http://www.nfl.com NFL website]
* [http://www.buccaneers.com Tampa Bay Buccaneers website]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Bowl_champions List of Super Bowl Champions]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_FBS_National_Football_Championship List of College Football National Champions]*[http://www.derrickbrookscharities.org Derrick Brooks Charities]
[[Category:Football Teams]]