Chad Brinker isn’t an Athens native, but for one reason or another he is repeatedly drawn to the city where he spent his college years.
Brinker graduated from Ohio in 2002 with a degree in exercise science after a four-year football and track career.
Following his time in Athens, he signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. After making it to the endzone three times during the Jets’ 2003 preseason campaign, Brinker was cut from the final roster and was sent overseas to play for the Cologne Centurions.
But a concussion ended his career after only three games and he chose to enter the business world. However, his love for the game pulled him back to Athens, where he served as the football team’s radio color coordinator from 2006-08.
Now Brinker is a scouting assistant for the Green Bay Packers, where he is responsible for scouting 20-plus teams, a job that sometimes brings him back to his old stomping grounds.
“They have me doing a little bit of everything right now,” he said. “I’m working on the college side and the pro side and whatever they want me to do, I’m planning to do for them.”
During his time suiting up for the Bobcats, Brinker rushed for more than 2,800 yards, fifth on the all-time rushing list. He also scored 30 touchdowns during the course of his four years starting on the gridiron, which is second all-time for the Bobcats.
Returning to his alma mater has a sentimental value for Brinker.
“Ohio University has meant so much to me,” he said. “I’ve learned so much from previous coaching staffs and the professors that I had in my classes. This university is really special to me and every year I try to get down here for a scouting trip, whether it’s in the fall or for one of these pro days.”
He was in attendance for Ohio’s pro day Thursday, marking his first trip to Athens since taking in the Bobcats’ win against Miami in November.
Brinker was able to set his sights on LaVon Brazill, Noah Keller and Phil Bates, among five other Bobcats, who were participating in the showcase. Players from Capitol College, Marietta College and Walsh University were also present.
Brazill was fresh off a performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where he strutted his stuff alongside 320 top professional prospects. Although Brazill was in top shape for the combine and his pro day, his body hasn’t been in perfect working order since the Bobcats’ bowl win in December.
“Fresh off knee surgery, I came out there and ran a 4.48 (40-yard dash),” he said. “Some of guys can’t even do that. In the beginning of February, I was on crutches. That’s something (the scouts) don’t know. I couldn’t even walk months ago and to go out there and run a 4.48 and compete — I think that shows toughness.”
Though Brazill is considered the top prospect of this year’s Bobcat class, Bates posted the type of workout that is sure to turn scouts’ heads and Keller showed a business-like demeanor and had an especially impressive showing in the bench press event.
“You’ve been working for this day since the last day of my season,” Keller said. “I’ve been looking forward to this day. It’s been about three months of preparation all leading up to today, so you’re kind of always going to be focused when there’s something that big.”
jr992810@ohiou.edu
