Disclaimer: As the 2020 current football season still is technically set to proceed as planned in Manhattan on Sept. 5, we will continue the Countdown as normal for now.

#88 Phillip Brooks

Redshirt Sophomore | 5-7 | 167 lbs. | Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

• Position: Wide Receiver
• Previous College: None
• Projection: Starter
• Status: On Scholarship

Phillip Andrew Brooks III (b. Sept. 19, 1999) is a promising young wide receiver who played in four games in 2018, enough to preserve his redshirt season while still gaining experience.

Brooks returned three kickoffs for an 18.7-yard average and one punt for 6 yards. His best game as a kickoff returner was against Texas Tech — he had two returns for 44 total yards.

Flourishing under a new coaching staff, Brooks saw time in 12 games in 2019, totaling 26 catches for 253 yards and one touchdown, while rushing seven times for 26 yards.

He also returned 12 kickoffs for a 22.7-yard average and eight punts for a 15-yard average.

Brooks finished fourth in the Big 12 in kickoff-return average last season, while he tied for third nationally in punt-return touchdowns. His punt-return score was a 66-yarder against Navy in the 2019 Liberty Bowl.

Brooks also had seven catches against Baylor, the most by a Wildcat on the season and tied for the third most among freshmen in a single game in school history.

He also totaled 69 receiving yards against the Bears, while he had 63 yards against West Virginia and scored his first career touchdown on a 14-yard reception at Texas Tech.

A four-year letter-winner at Lee’s Summit High School West under head coach Vinny Careswell, Brooks was named to the USA Today Sports All-USA Missouri team, as well as the Missouri Football Coaches Association All-State first team as a senior in 2017.

He rushed for 1,666 yards (averaging 151.5 yards per game) and 21 touchdowns as a senior, while he collected 556 receiving yards (a 23.2-yard average per game) and 10 touchdowns, and also totaled 262 return yards and a score.

A two-time first-team all-conference and all-district pick who also was named to The Kansas City Star All-Metro team, Brooks was invited to play in the Blue-Grey All-American game.

He also lettered three years in baseball, earning a pair of all-state honors, and four years in basketball, picking up two all-district accolades.

Brooks initially walked on with the Wildcats over offers from Air Force, Idaho, Navy and North Dakota, plus interest from home-state team Missouri, but is likely on scholarship now.