Kendell Brooks Bio
Kendell Brooks (born March 3, 2000) is an American professional football safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Greenville Crusaders and the Michigan State Spartans and signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and listed at 206 pounds, Brooks wears jersey number 30 and has built his professional career through perseverance after going undrafted.
Brooks grew up in Swansea, South Carolina, and developed into an all-state selection at Swansea High School. His career has taken him across multiple NFL organizations, and he has earned his place in the league through special teams play and a chance to contribute on defense. Now with the Titans, he continues to pursue a long-term role at the safety position.
Early Life and Background
Kendell Brooks was born on March 3, 2000, and grew up in Swansea, South Carolina. He attended Swansea High School, where he earned all-state recognition as a young football prospect. Coming from a small town in the Midlands region, Brooks used his high school career to gain the attention of college recruiters looking for defensive backs with size and instincts.
After completing his prep career, Brooks began his college football journey at North Greenville University, an NCAA Division II program. He later transferred to Michigan State, a Football Bowl Subdivision school, where he earned a scholarship. His route from a small South Carolina town to a Big Ten program reflected patience and steady development rather than a fast rise to prominence.
Path to American Football
Brooks began his college football career with the North Greenville Crusaders, playing in 19 games across the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He posted 78 total tackles, including 56 in 2019, along with two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. The 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and during that time Brooks worked for his family’s logging business, delivered pizzas for Pizza Hut, and took a position at FedEx.
After the 2020 cancellation, Brooks entered the transfer portal and considered joining the Mercer Bears of the Southern Conference before the Michigan State Spartans extended an offer that included a scholarship. He accepted the opportunity to move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision and join one of the Big Ten’s most historic programs.
Kendell Brooks Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
During his two seasons at North Greenville, Brooks established himself as a reliable tackler in the secondary. His 56-tackle season in 2019 highlighted his ability to play downhill against the run and support the Crusaders’ defense across multiple games. Although the 2020 season was canceled, Brooks used the time away from the field to stay connected to his hometown while preparing for a potential move to a higher level of competition.
Michigan State Breakthrough (2021–2022)
In his first season with the Michigan State Spartans in 2021, Brooks worked mainly on special teams and recorded nine tackles while playing 26 defensive snaps. The breakthrough came during the 2022 season, when an injury to starting safety Xavier Henderson opened the door for Brooks in the second game of the year against Akron. He responded with seven tackles and a forced fumble in that contest.
Brooks went on to start 10 games in 2022, leading the Spartans’ secondary with 756 defensive snaps. He tied for eighth in the FBS with three forced fumbles and finished the year with 100 tackles, the second-best total on the team and fifth-best in the Big Ten Conference. His performance that season turned him into a legitimate professional prospect despite entering the college ranks as a lightly regarded recruit.
Tennessee Titans Era (2024–Present)
Brooks signed with the Tennessee Titans practice squad on September 2, 2024, after short stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders earlier that year. On December 7, 2024, he was promoted to the active roster, and he made his NFL debut in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars on special teams. His first appearances came on coverage and return units as he worked to prove his value to the Titans’ coaching staff.
On August 26, 2025, Brooks was waived as part of the Titans’ final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released from the practice squad on September 1, then re-signed on October 2 and promoted to the active roster eight days later. Through his Titans tenure, he has continued to focus on special teams while competing for snaps in the secondary.
Notable Events and Milestones
Brooks’ career-defining moment came during the 2022 season at Michigan State, when he stepped into a starting role after an injury and finished with three forced fumbles and 100 tackles. His NFL debut with the Titans in December 2024 marked his first regular-season game in the league, and his repeated movement between the practice squad and active roster in 2025 reflects the daily competition that defines life on the team’s roster bubble.
Kendell Brooks Career Wins
As a defensive player, Kendell Brooks’ career highlights are measured in production rather than race victories. His most notable statistical accomplishments came during his 2022 season at Michigan State, where he tied for eighth in the FBS with three forced fumbles and ranked second on the team with 100 tackles. In the NFL, he has recorded 24 total tackles as a member of the Tennessee Titans.
College and Professional Highlights
Brooks’ top college highlight was his 2022 breakout season at Michigan State, which included a forced fumble in his first career start against Akron and a 100-tackle finish that ranked among the best in the Big Ten. At North Greenville, his 56-tackle season in 2019 served as his first strong statistical year. In the NFL, his debut with the Titans in Week 14 of the 2024 season stands as his first regular-season appearance at the highest level.
Other Performances
Beyond his headline seasons, Brooks posted 78 tackles across two years at North Greenville and contributed on special teams during his first year at Michigan State. He has also logged time with the Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Commanders practice squads, building a resume of experience across multiple organizations before settling in Tennessee.
Kendell Brooks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brooks comes from Swansea, South Carolina, where his family runs a logging business. During the canceled 2020 college season, he worked for the family logging operation while also taking jobs as a Pizza Hut deliveryman and a FedEx employee to support himself. His family ties to the logging industry in the Midlands region remain part of his off-field identity.
Personal Life
Brooks is known publicly by his full name and continues to be recognized by his Swansea roots. His social media presence, including his Instagram account, reflects his connection to family and friends in South Carolina as well as his ongoing work in professional football.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a study in perseverance for Kendell Brooks with the Tennessee Titans. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, re-signed to the practice squad the following day, and released from the practice squad on September 1. His movement across the practice squad and active roster during the early weeks of the season reflects the competitive depth of the Titans’ secondary and special teams units.
On October 2, Brooks was re-signed to the practice squad and promoted to the active roster eight days later, giving him another opportunity to contribute in the second half of the season. His role is expected to center on special teams coverage while he competes for additional defensive snaps at safety. Through the early portion of the year, he has continued to build on his 24 total career tackles in the NFL.
Looking ahead, Brooks’ outlook in Tennessee depends on his consistency on special teams and his ability to step into defensive situations when called upon. The Titans’ coaching staff has shown willingness to move him between the practice squad and active roster, suggesting he remains in their long-term plans. His journey from an undrafted free agent in 2023 to a rostered safety in 2025 illustrates the patience required to build an NFL career.
