2024 Redshirt Sophomore

• Academic All-Big Ten
• Played in seven games
• Two solo tackles and one interception on the season
• Recorded one tackle and on interception, returned for 27 yards, at #1 Oregon (10/26/24)

2023 Redshirt Freshman

• Academic All-Big Ten
• Played in nine games

2022 Freshman

• Played in three games and redshirted the season
• One tackle on the season
• First career tackle against Virginia 9/10/22

High School 

• Played for head coach Rocky Hildago at Glynn Academy
• Played one year of high school football
• All-region first team
• Also played tennis, basketball, and track in high school
• Two-time all-region in basketball
• Finished sixth in the state in the high jump
• All A Honor Roll
• Offers included Air Force, Chattanooga, Dartmouth, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Mercer, Minnesota, Navy, and Penn

Personal

• Born May 30, 2004
• Son of Burnett and Zalynia Rooks
• One brother, John, and one sister, Morgan
• Cousin, Desmond Clark, was a tight end for the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos
• Cousin, Tracey Walker III, is a safety for the Detroit Lions
• Cousin, Dominique Davis, is a quarterback for the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes
• Chose Illinois because, “It’s something different from my hometown. There is a great relationship between the coaches and I. During my whole visit I felt like I was a part of the famILLy.”
• Majoring in kinesiology