SMU tackle on the mend after knee surgery

[PonyPride]

SMU right tackle J.T. Brooks, who played so well toward the end of the 2009 season that he was named to the Sporting News "All-Bowl Season" team is working his way back to full health after undergoing surgery on his left knee after the season.

The procedure was designed to remove scar tissue from Brooks' patellar tendon, which had been bothering him since the offseason to the extent that he missed time during the Ponies' preseason workouts in August.

"I really didn't get back to 'full go' until the UAB game," Brooks said. "It bothered me pretty good, but I had to roll with it.

"But I'm looking forward to playing a healthy season."

Brooks is one of several offensive linemen — along with Bryce Tennison (shoulder/foot), Jordan Free (shoulder) and Joey Fontana (knee) — who will miss the Mustangs' spring workouts, and is taking a different approach to his conditioning than he did the last time he suffered an injury that required surgery.

"I'm doing some cardio and lifting with my upper body now, and I've actually lost 20 pounds (to 295) since my surgery," Brooks said. "I tore my (right) ACL in high school, and I put on about 35 pounds that time."

Brooks, who said he will be ready to go with his teammates when the Mustangs convene in August for preseason workouts, said that Tennison — his roommate — also has lost weight since his (shoulder) surgery, down to "somewhere in the 270s," and said the two are helping each other stay in shape while they rehabilitate from their surgeries. The biggest change, Brooks said, is in their refrigerator.

"You'll barely find anything in there that doesn't say 'reduced fat' or 'fat-free,'" Brooks said. "We're being smarter about what (foods) we bring home. When you rehab, your fitness is a lot more dependent on nutrition than on exercise. You've got to be smart about what you put in your body."

Brooks said Tennison not only is a friend and teammate, but also a capable chef.

"There's still not a lot of salad at our place," Brooks said, laughing. "But we're pretty much grilling chicken and fish, almost every night. I help bring the food in, but he's really good at preparing it.

"Two years ago, when I was redshirting, I was too heavy — I was about 335 or 340, but I've slimmed down. I'm progressing pretty well, health-wise."

[Fresh]

Great story — thanks. It's kind of funny to think of offensive linemen as health nuts, but if it gets these two back on the field, stick with it.

[larskjenstad]

SMU right tackle J.T. Brooks, who played so well toward the end of the 2009 season that he was named to the Sporting News "All-Bowl Season" team is working his way back to full health after undergoing surgery on his left knee after the season.

The procedure was designed to remove scar tissue from Brooks' patellar tendon, which had been bothering him since the offseason to the extent that he missed time during the Ponies' preseason workouts in August.

"I really didn't get back to 'full go' until the UAB game," Brooks said. "It bothered me pretty good, but I had to roll with it.

"But I'm looking forward to playing a healthy season."

Brooks is one of several offensive linemen — along with Bryce Tennison (shoulder/foot), Jordan Free (shoulder) and Joey Fontana (knee) — who will miss the Mustangs' spring workouts, and is taking a different approach to his conditioning than he did the last time he suffered an injury that required surgery.

"I'm doing some cardio and lifting with my upper body now, and I've actually lost 20 pounds (to 295) since my surgery," Brooks said. "I tore my (right) ACL in high school, and I put on about 35 pounds that time."

Brooks, who said he will be ready to go with his teammates when the Mustangs convene in August for preseason workouts, said that Tennison — his roommate — also has lost weight since his (shoulder) surgery, down to "somewhere in the 270s," and said the two are helping each other stay in shape while they rehabilitate from their surgeries. The biggest change, Brooks said, is in their refrigerator.

"You'll barely find anything in there that doesn't say 'reduced fat' or 'fat-free,'" Brooks said. "We're being smarter about what (foods) we bring home. When you rehab, your fitness is a lot more dependent on nutrition than on exercise. You've got to be smart about what you put in your body."

Brooks said Tennison not only is a friend and teammate, but also a capable chef.

"There's still not a lot of salad at our place," Brooks said, laughing. "But we're pretty much grilling chicken and fish, almost every night. I help bring the food in, but he's really good at preparing it.

"Two years ago, when I was redshirting, I was too heavy — I was about 335 or 340, but I've slimmed down. I'm progressing pretty well, health-wise."

PP,

Thanks for the surgery updates, lets do a story on the non-surgery guys, players that are coming in that have really impressed you with their off-season conditioning...lol.

[PonyPride]

Fear not — plenty of non-surgical stuff is on the way!

[ALEX LIFESON]

Hey double P, didn't Kelly Turner have surgery as well?

[PonyPride]

Not to the best of my knowledge. From what I understand, the offensive linemen missing spring ball will be Tennison, Brooks, Free and Fontana. I'll double-check on Turner, but I saw him the other day and he looked OK.

[High Horse]

Kelly Turner is healthy.

[PonyPride]

Was about to post the same thing — Turner's OK.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Good deal, thanks.