MOBILE, Ala. – Three more members from the 2021 University of South Alabama football roster, linebacker Jamal Brooks, offensive lineman Ja'Chai Baker and defensive back Devin Rockette, will get their chance to achieve their dream of playing in the National Football League after signing a free agent deals.

Brooks (Chicago Bears), Baker (Atlanta Falcons) and Rockette (New York Jets) have each signed deals with their respective teams following the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft, which saw fellow teammate Jalen Tolbert become the third player in program history drafted by the league as he was selected in the third round with the 88th overall pick.

Brooks played just one season with the Jaguars after transferring from Missouri, but in that one season, he played in 11 of South Alabama's 12 games during the fall where he ranked seventh on the defense with 42 total tackles — 19 solo and 23 assists — while also recording six tackles for loss, which included a sack. Brooks was credited with three quarterback hurries, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. He returned his lone interception of the season 56 yards at Texas State – one of three interceptions by the Jags which were converted into 17 points — and had a sack against the Bobcats. Brooks finished with four or more tackles in six outings, and closed out collegiate career with a season-best eight tackles — two solo, six assists — in season finale against Coastal Carolina.

Baker earned an invitation and played for the National team in the 10th Annual NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Collegiate Bowl in late January held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound lineman started all 12 games at left tackle for the Jaguars in 2021, his lone season in Mobile after transferring from Southeast Missouri State. A native of Omaha, Neb., he also played at Wyoming and Iowa Western Community College during his career.

Over the course of his career, which included two different stints as a Jag, Rockette appeared in 42 games, accumulating 73 tackles, five interceptions, 13 passes defensed and three fumble recoveries. This past fall, the Oxford, Miss., native was credited with 24 tackles – 18 assists, six solo – two interceptions, three pass break ups and a fumble recovery. Coming into the 2021 campaign, he was a honorable mention preseason All-American by Pro Football Network and a preseason third-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection by Phil Steele Publications, earning fourth-team preseason all-league recognition from Athlon Sports.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give

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