University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics
From a Torn Labrum to a Starting Job: Brooks Maile's Long Road Back
9/24/2026 9:49:00 AM | Football
GREELEY, Colo. – Brooks Maile had just about made peace with it.
He had torn his labrum at BYU right before the season began, never got the training reps he needed, and then watched the entire coaching staff get let go, a combination that left him without film, without a roster spot, and without much confidence as he entered the transfer portal.
"I was just thinking, I didn't really have a lot of film," Maile said. "Going to the transfer portal was a pretty big thing back then, so didn't have a lot of confidence."
Then the new Northern Colorado head coach Ed Lamb called.
"He said that he needed a nose tackle," Maile said. "After that, I mean, it's been very close relationships with him. Always talk about life and football and everything in between."
That call started one of the more unusual journeys on Northern Colorado's roster, one that has been defined less by highlights than by operating rooms, treatment tables and the daily decision to keep showing up.
The Injuries
Maile's first season in Greeley lasted five games. He tore his ACL against Weber State, then went through a series of follow-up surgeries trying to get his knee right.
Mentally, he said, the injuries were harder than the physical rehab.
"It wasn't just, 'Oh, he's out for a while, and then he'll just sit at home, sleep and get better,'" Maile said. "It was every day. I had to go into the treatment room every day. I had to work extra just to get my confidence of stepping with one leg, punching with one arm to become an even player, not just someone who could only go left the whole time or only go right."
He described the whole experience as a mental battle rather than a physical one.
"I think anyone could do it. It just depends on if you're willing to do it every day," Maile said. "Someone goes through something big, and sometimes they hang it up, it just makes sense sometimes. It's hard to go through all that. But for me, I think it was more a mental battle that I won, and the physicality was just there."
The Payoff
Now in his fourth year with the program, Maile is healthy and playing the best football of his career. He has been a consistent presence on a defensive line that has steadily improved through the season. A group that produced four sacks and eight tackles for loss against Northeastern State and helped seal the win with a three-play defensive stand in overtime.
His head coach sees the difference clearly.
"He's just now back to where he's playing without thinking about that, and he's thinking about winning, and he's thinking about doing what he can for the team," Lamb said. "I've seen his confidence grow."
Lamb called him "a true football man" and pointed to a team mantra Maile embodies: the rush and the coverage must match.
"He's out there to do the work. He's out there to see other guys succeed," Lamb said. "If he can get a tackle for loss or a sack, that's exciting. But it's not what he's chasing. He's chasing one-on-one victories, one-on-two victories at times when they get the double team and creating successful opportunities for his teammates."
Maile credited the group's improvement to a shared understanding of roles.
"Everyone has the drive to get back there, but they also have to make sure they're doing their job. They can't just take somebody else's job and try to do too much," he said. "Everyone's gaining understanding, we just got to do this part and that's it. We're getting home every time. I'm really enjoying the confidence everyone else has in doing their own job, because it's been going crazy."
The Team Around Him
Maile has watched the program change in his time here. Early on, he said, the culture was "more coach led", players thinking about getting their film and heading out. That has shifted.
"Now it's more people buying back, giving back, knowing that they're going to come back," he said.
He pointed to the overtime stand against Northeastern State as the clearest example. Northern Colorado's staff called its most basic zone defense three straight plays, and the unit answered with two sacks and an interception.
"What you saw during that overtime was all of us working together," Maile said. "It wasn't just one man taking on 11. Someone in the back was doing their job with the coverage. Somebody up front was taking care of their one guy on the offensive line, and then wherever that quarterback went, that was that person's job to execute."
Life Beyond Football
Maile graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics over the summer and is now pursuing his master's in business administration. He married his wife, Lesley Hernandez, in May, a relationship he credits as the foundation everything else rests on.
"We've been together since high school. She's my rock," Maile said. "Without her, nothing would have come to anything in my life. She supports me so much in my football adventures, and I can't wait to support her after football's done. School and football wouldn't really matter if I didn't have someone behind me."
After this season, he plans to pursue professional football before moving into construction, with a longer-term goal of giving back to young athletes the way his coaches gave back to him.
For now, his focus is on a season he finally gets to spend healthy.
"I just want to give my best season," Maile said. "I'm feeling great now. It's going to be a really good season."
Tickets can be purchased through the UNC ticket office online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, by calling 970-351-4849, or in person at the UNC ticket office during normal business hours.
Quarterback Club
The Quarterback Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Football program. By giving to the Quarterback Club, you help enhance the student-athlete experience, providing resources for team development, and ensuring the success of the Bears on and off the field. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in the future of the program.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at UNCBears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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He had torn his labrum at BYU right before the season began, never got the training reps he needed, and then watched the entire coaching staff get let go, a combination that left him without film, without a roster spot, and without much confidence as he entered the transfer portal.
"I was just thinking, I didn't really have a lot of film," Maile said. "Going to the transfer portal was a pretty big thing back then, so didn't have a lot of confidence."
Then the new Northern Colorado head coach Ed Lamb called.
"He said that he needed a nose tackle," Maile said. "After that, I mean, it's been very close relationships with him. Always talk about life and football and everything in between."
That call started one of the more unusual journeys on Northern Colorado's roster, one that has been defined less by highlights than by operating rooms, treatment tables and the daily decision to keep showing up.
The Injuries
Maile's first season in Greeley lasted five games. He tore his ACL against Weber State, then went through a series of follow-up surgeries trying to get his knee right.
Mentally, he said, the injuries were harder than the physical rehab.
"It wasn't just, 'Oh, he's out for a while, and then he'll just sit at home, sleep and get better,'" Maile said. "It was every day. I had to go into the treatment room every day. I had to work extra just to get my confidence of stepping with one leg, punching with one arm to become an even player, not just someone who could only go left the whole time or only go right."
He described the whole experience as a mental battle rather than a physical one.
"I think anyone could do it. It just depends on if you're willing to do it every day," Maile said. "Someone goes through something big, and sometimes they hang it up, it just makes sense sometimes. It's hard to go through all that. But for me, I think it was more a mental battle that I won, and the physicality was just there."
The Payoff
Now in his fourth year with the program, Maile is healthy and playing the best football of his career. He has been a consistent presence on a defensive line that has steadily improved through the season. A group that produced four sacks and eight tackles for loss against Northeastern State and helped seal the win with a three-play defensive stand in overtime.
His head coach sees the difference clearly.
"He's just now back to where he's playing without thinking about that, and he's thinking about winning, and he's thinking about doing what he can for the team," Lamb said. "I've seen his confidence grow."
Lamb called him "a true football man" and pointed to a team mantra Maile embodies: the rush and the coverage must match.
"He's out there to do the work. He's out there to see other guys succeed," Lamb said. "If he can get a tackle for loss or a sack, that's exciting. But it's not what he's chasing. He's chasing one-on-one victories, one-on-two victories at times when they get the double team and creating successful opportunities for his teammates."
Maile credited the group's improvement to a shared understanding of roles.
"Everyone has the drive to get back there, but they also have to make sure they're doing their job. They can't just take somebody else's job and try to do too much," he said. "Everyone's gaining understanding, we just got to do this part and that's it. We're getting home every time. I'm really enjoying the confidence everyone else has in doing their own job, because it's been going crazy."
The Team Around Him
Maile has watched the program change in his time here. Early on, he said, the culture was "more coach led", players thinking about getting their film and heading out. That has shifted.
"Now it's more people buying back, giving back, knowing that they're going to come back," he said.
He pointed to the overtime stand against Northeastern State as the clearest example. Northern Colorado's staff called its most basic zone defense three straight plays, and the unit answered with two sacks and an interception.
"What you saw during that overtime was all of us working together," Maile said. "It wasn't just one man taking on 11. Someone in the back was doing their job with the coverage. Somebody up front was taking care of their one guy on the offensive line, and then wherever that quarterback went, that was that person's job to execute."
Life Beyond Football
Maile graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics over the summer and is now pursuing his master's in business administration. He married his wife, Lesley Hernandez, in May, a relationship he credits as the foundation everything else rests on.
"We've been together since high school. She's my rock," Maile said. "Without her, nothing would have come to anything in my life. She supports me so much in my football adventures, and I can't wait to support her after football's done. School and football wouldn't really matter if I didn't have someone behind me."
After this season, he plans to pursue professional football before moving into construction, with a longer-term goal of giving back to young athletes the way his coaches gave back to him.
For now, his focus is on a season he finally gets to spend healthy.
"I just want to give my best season," Maile said. "I'm feeling great now. It's going to be a really good season."
Tickets can be purchased through the UNC ticket office online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, by calling 970-351-4849, or in person at the UNC ticket office during normal business hours.
Quarterback Club
The Quarterback Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Football program. By giving to the Quarterback Club, you help enhance the student-athlete experience, providing resources for team development, and ensuring the success of the Bears on and off the field. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in the future of the program.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at UNCBears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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