2025 4-star OL Nicolai Brooks is ready to make an early decision

Buford (Ga.) four-star offensive lineman Nicolai Brooks is a ways away from signing his National Letter of Intent next December — roughly 19 months from now.

But Brooks has already gone through the parts of the recruiting process he feels he needed to make a decision. And he’ll do exactly that next week.

“I’m deciding to commit this early because I just feel like this is somewhere I would want to be for four years college if I need to be,” he told On3. “It feels like home.”

Last month, Brooks said a handful of teams were standing out. But now he’s largely down to just three: Alabama, Penn State and Iowa.

He visited each of those programs, along with Iowa State, Clemson and Florida State in the past two months. Deciding on May 1 isn’t because of a special day, he’s just ready to make a decision.

“I truly just felt like it’s that time,” he added.

Relationships led Nicolai Brooks to decision

The school that will announce for has checked all of the boxes in a program that he was after, and that’s why he feels comfortable making the decision now.

“I love the coaching staff, both the head coach and the offensive line coach, at the school I am committing to,” he said. “They have been there for a long time, and we already have a great bond.”

Brooks is the No. 157 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.