WELCOME TO THE BIG SHOW: Kentrell Brothers
The team at Vikings Territory has been busy working to get to know each of our newest Vikings draft selections, and this week we will give you a chance to learn everything we know about these players through our reintroduction of the “Welcome to the Big Show” series.
ATTRIBUTES
HEIGHT: 6′ 0″
WEIGHT: 245 pounds
ARM LENGTH: 30.75 inches
HANDS: 9.75 inches
PRO DAY RESULTS
40-YARD DASH: 4.73 seconds
BENCH PRESS: 19 repetitions (of 225 pounds)
VERTICAL JUMP: 31.5 inches
BROAD JUMP: 9 feet, 2 inches (NFL Combine results)
20-YARD SHORT SHUTTLE: 4.11 seconds (NFL Combine results)
3-CONE: 6.99 seconds (NFL Combine results)
His poor 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine (4.89) hurt his draft stock, but his three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle was among the top three performers at his position. His short area quickness and change of direction ability is what shows up on game tape.
PERSONAL
Brothers was a highly sought after prospect out of the state of Oklahoma who excelled as a three-year starter for Guthrie High School as a wide receiver and defensive end. As a senior in 2010, he logged 100 tackles and 19 sacks while also accounting for 1,322 yards and 18 touchdowns on 63 receptions as a receiver on the offensive side of the ball. Brothers was the Daily Oklahoman’s Defensive Player of the Year helping his team advance to the state semifinals.
Missouri was the first school to offer Brothers a scholarship shortly after his junior season. Tigers’ offensive line coach Josh Henson played a large roll in finding and recruiting Brothers. “He was always around the football,” Henson said. “If he wasn’t tackling the guy, he was standing right there ready to tackle him. Some guys, when you watch them play, they can anticipate the game.”
Brothers committed to Missouri just days after watching the Tigers upset No. 1-ranked Oklahoma 36-27 while visiting Columbia. It was a huge win and Brothers recalls rushing the field with the student section. “It was a crazy feeling to me,” Brothers said. “After being in that environment, it was hard to say no.”
Brothers chose Missouri over Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Kansas State, Iowa State, Syracuse, Washington and others.
Brothers earned a degree in sociology. His parents are Jeff Jones and Kia Brothers-Jones. His lists of hobbies include all sports, video games and large game hunting.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
Brothers became the first Tiger under Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel to post seven consecutive games with 10+ tackles. He accomplished the feat in the final seven games of his All-SEC senior season leading the nation with 79 solo tackles and 79 assists in 2015. His great senior season also included 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and three blocked kicks. Brothers earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his effort at Arkansas State on September 12th when he tallied 16 total tackles and two interceptions.
In 2014, Brothers led Missouri with 122 tackles and helped the Tigers to a 11-3 record. His Junior season was highlighted by a then high 14 tackle performance against No. 1 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. His 357 career tackles over the past three seasons led the SEC during that span and ranks sixth in the conference since 2005.
POSITIVES
• Great instincts and superb ability to read and react
• An old school linebacker who plays physical in run support
• Great leader who takes control of a defense
• Tough defender who has a nose for the football
• Disciplined and patient rarely caught out of position
• Balanced and precise footwork with good lower body strength
• Talented at stacking and shedding blockers
• Coverts speed to power and can deliver a thump as a tackler
• Takes proper angles to the ball carrier and is a reliable tackler
NEGATIVES
• Lacks straight line speed
• Stiff hips and can struggle coving faster backs and tight ends
• 6’0” 245 pounds is smaller than ideal size for middle linebacker
• Doesn’t have great arm length (30 3/4)
SCOUTING REPORTS
NFL.COM PROFILE: Really fun to watch on tape with many of the same play traits that made TCUs Paul Dawson so productive last season.
CBSSPORTS.COM: Durable and tough, started 40 straight games over the past three seasons.
PROFOOTBALLFOCUS.COM: One of the nation’s most impressive players against the run in 2015.
WALTERFOOTBALL.COM: Brothers would fit in the NFL as a middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense or inside in a 3-4. He is a tough run defender who is a good tackling in-the-box presence.
THE TAPE
As Adam mentioned in his first post, Vikings Territory does not create these videos, which may contain music and/or commentary not suitable for all audiences.
Kentrell Brothers on being selected in the NFL Draft.
Missouri vs Florida 2015, 9 solo tackles and 6 assists.
Missouri vs Arkansas State, 10 solo tackles, 6 assists and 2 ints.
Missouri vs Georgia 2015, 5 solo tackles and 12 assists
Kentrell Brothers 2015 Senior Highlights.
Vikings.com Great interview with Brothers from rookie mini-camp
THE SELECTION
An already stout Minnesota Vikings’ linebacking crew gained another special player in fifth-round pick Kentrell Brothers (160 overall). The Mizzou linebacker is a prolific tackler who led the nation with 152 tackles in 2015. Brothers’ ability to read plays quickly and work through traffic will help him make an early impact in run support and also on special teams for the Vikings.
The second-team All-American is not an athletic freak, nor does he have the size or speed intangibles Mike Zimmer usually covets. What he does have is great vision and an innate ability to always be around the ball and finish plays. Brothers knows how to keep himself clean with a jarring punch and good stack and shed technique. Zimmer will love coaching this film-room junkie who goes the extra mile off the field to be the best he can be on game day. Brothers is an assignment sound defender with great football awareness who Zimmer should trust enough to grant some opportunities as a rookie.
THE VIKINGS FIT
Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman praised Brothers for his instinctive playmaking, and believes he could contribute in the middle and on special teams. “I know at the middle linebacker, to us the most important thing is instincts,” Spielman said. “I’ve seen the range that this kid plays with, he plays a lot faster, because he is so instinctive and gets a jump on the ball. … Every time that I have watched him or our scouts or coaches have watched him, he’s just producing. I think those are the things that you have to take into account, that they’re just one heck of a football player.”
Brothers block three kicks on special team in 2015, which ranked second in the FBS. As a redshirt freshman, Brother was a core special teams guy and says he doesn’t mind doing that again with the Vikings. “If that’s my role in the NFL, that’s something I’ll do to the best of my ability,” Brothers said. “Everybody wants to be a starter, but you’ve got to start somewhere.”
In five years at Mizzou, Brothers worked his way up the depth chart and took full advantage of the opportunities he was given. Don’t be surprised if he brings that same work ethic and determination to Minnesota.
Drafting Brothers gives the Vikings some much needed depth in the middle, joining Eric Kendricks and Audie Cole. Kendricks started 11 games on the inside as a rookie, but Zimmer will now keep the option open to move Kendricks to weak-side and develop Brothers in the middle.