Antoine Brooks Jr. is making his voice, and play, heard at Riders training camp

It's easy to spot Antoine Brooks Jr. at the Saskatchewan Roughriders rookie camp.

No. 33 is one of the most vocal players out on the field, but the defensive back is also making a splash with his play.

"My teammates [have] been telling me all day that my good spirit is actually getting them to keep going," Brooks said.

"I have fun every day. My life is great … I'm just enjoying every bit of it."

Brooks spent last year on the practice roster and says it gave him the time to study the nuances of the CFL game.

"I was actually just enjoying and trying to learn the playbook and make sure, you know, that I'm ready for this year," he said.

"I know the 12-man game now. The defence is actually going by slow to me now [and I'm] actually having fun with it."

Head coach Corey Mace praised Brooks's versatility in being able to play multiple defensive positions.

"From the schematic standpoint, to be able to have guys that can move around a little bit, you know, it's good for disguising and stuff like that defensively, and then also offensively getting guys out of jams," Mace said.

"And of course, special teams. The more positions you can play if injuries happen or whatever, you can get us out of a jam."

Brooks has had to be versatile in his football career.

He was a star quarterback at DuVal High School in Lanham, Md., while also playing on the defensive side of the ball.

But after he fractured an ankle and broke his wrist during his senior year, Brooks needed to concentrate on his defensive skills.

"I switched to linebacker in college and that's when I played nickel[back]," Brooks said.

He went on to play four seasons at the University of Maryland, earning three All-Big 10 selections. 

Brooks was drafted by the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers. After four games with the Steelers, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams, playing eight games and earning a Super Bowl ring when the Rams won in 2021.

"Football is my life. I've being playing football a long time," Brooks said. "Wherever coach needs me, they put me right there."

Players have Saturday off, then main camp starts Sunday at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.