South Alabama punter Jack Brooks won’t use his final season of eligibility, he announced this week on Instagram.

Brooks, who would have been a fifth-year starter in 2023, said he has chosen to end his career and move into the workforce. He graduated with a degree in Sports Management in 2022.

“I will not be playing this extra season at South,” Brooks wrote in part. “I have decided to finish up and focus on the next journey of my life I am looking forward to starting! I have loved every minute at South Alabama and will always appreciate my time there and all the great people I met along the way!”

A native of Wagga Wagga, Australia, Brooks joined the South Alabama program via the ProKick Australia scouting organization in 2019. He became an immediate starter, posting a 42.6-yard average on 220 career punts while also working as the Jaguars’ primary holder on extra points and field goals.

Like many punters who have entered American football from Australia, Brooks is quite a bit older than the average college football player. He turns 30 on Sunday.

Brooks’ departure leaves South Alabama with two punters on its roster, senior walk-on Jack Martin and true freshman Aleksi Pulkkinen. The highly-regarded Pulkkinen, a native of Finland, joined the Jaguars’ program after spring practice.

Here’s Brooks’ full statement:

“I would just like to say these last 4 years at the University of South Alabama have been amazing and an awesome experience! Graduating with a Sports Management degree and playing 4 seasons I am very thankful for and will never forget!

I would like to thank all the coaches I have had at South who have developed me into the person I am today! I also want to thank all my teammates! It has been an unreal journey with all my teammates and it has been so much fun getting to know all you boys! Having success last season with them all is something I will never forget!

“I also would like to thank all the people in Mobile that made my time so enjoyable and helped me with everything and made me feel very welcomed! I also want to say a massive thank you to Prokick Australia! Chappy and Johnny gave me this opportunity and I greatly appreciate all their hard work to get me to where I am today. I am forever grateful!

“And lastly, I want to thank my family who have supported my dreams and been there for me, I am very thankful for what you have all done to support me and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without you all!

“With that being said I will not be playing this extra season at South! I have decided to finish up and focus on the next journey of my life I am looking forward to starting! I have loved every minute at South Alabama and will always appreciate my time there and all the great people I met along the way!

“Thanks again and good luck to all for this season and the future! Go Jags!”