Many coaches subscribe to the idea that the offseason is where players are made.
The players who put in the work grow and take their game to the next level while the ones who don't often get passed on the depth chart. When University of Charleston coach Pat Kirkland watches D'Andre Brooks, he sees a great example of doing what it takes to improve every day.
"He's always worked hard - people don't realize that he's an absolute beast in the weight room and busts his butt every day in the offseason," Kirkland said. "When you couple that with his great knowledge of the offense and being one of the older guys, he's definitely assumed the responsibility of being a leader for this group."
This offseason is important for Brooks. The 6-foot receiver out of Cleveland is preparing to take on a bigger role for UC and prove that he's ready to emerge as the go-to target in the passing game for the Golden Eagles. It was a role that, for a long time, had been occupied by Joey Augustin.
For the last few seasons Brooks got the opportunity to watch and learn from Augustin, who rewrote the UC record books in terms of single-season and career receiving marks after capping his career with 2,410 yards and 27 touchdowns on 149 receptions. Now it's Brooks' time to step in and fill that void.
"We had conversations since the season was over about it being my turn and that it's my time to step up and be the leader in the room," Brooks said. "I'm definitely aware of that, so I feel like it's my job to set a good example for the rest of the receivers every day - especially here in spring ball."
As a sophomore last season, Brooks began to emerge as a play-maker for the Golden Eagles. On a Charleston team that struggled to find a consistent passing game in 2016 due to several injuries at the quarterback position, Brooks still caught 31 passes for 427 yards and a score as a complementary receiver alongside of Augustin.
But even when he wasn't getting called on to catch passes, Brooks was making his presence felt in other ways. In addition to his natural route-running ability and the way he makes tough catches look easy, Kirkland pointed out that Brooks is one of the most committed blockers he's ever had at the receiver position.
"You have to know your role and do whatever is asked of you," Brooks said. "When things are tough and aren't going your way, you can't let that get you frustrated and stop you from doing your job.
"I always trust that if I do what I'm supposed to do, Coach will find a way to get the ball in my hands and let me go try to make a play."
Now that spring practice has arrived, Brooks and the rest of the Golden Eagles are pushing themselves to try to bounce back from a tough season in which they won just three games a year after earning an NCAA Division II playoff berth.
The players have seen their understanding of what they're supposed to do grow every day, finding their way past some early growing pains when they got back on the field. But they know that this is a stretch that can make them a lot better as they look to improve.
"We struggled a little bit that first week or so, but we're getting a lot better every day," Brooks said. "As receivers, we're getting a lot of reps because we've got [six] quarterbacks throwing it to us.
"This is valuable for us and we have to get as much out of it as we can. The adversity we go through now, it allows us to look back at it later on and adjust so we know how to overcome it if we see it again this fall."
Contact Michael Carvelli at 304-348-4810 or michael.carvelli@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @carvelli3.