Mizzou Senior Feature: Jake Brents
9/1/2016 8:35:00 AM | Football
Family led Brents to Mizzou, where he discovered 122 more brothers
Football has always been a big part of Jake Brents' life. He started playing in first grade when his father, Terry Brents, coached his mighty might team. From that point, Jake had his dream, to play football for Mizzou.
"It was always a dream of mine to come back and play," Brents said. "My uncle played in the Holiday Bowl back in 1983 and my other uncle played in the late 80's and early 90's. Both my parents went here, they actually met here. I grew up a huge Mizzou fan. My cousins all went here, my aunts and even my little brother [Cole] just started. He's a freshman and my sister [Julia] is a junior so it's almost like family tradition."
The family aspect of Mizzou doesn't stop there for Brents. He is quick to point out that family is both the reason he came, and the reason he has prospered with the football team at Mizzou.
"That's what I think Mizzou is; it's family," Brents said. "You think about this team, all the adversity that we have been through, you can truly look back at this and say, those guys are my family. It spoke volumes for me, the fact that I can come into a situation like this, with my whole family going here, just to have that family extended by the 122 guys that I've been with on the football team."
Brents has accomplished quite a bit with his extended football family. Two SEC East titles, a Cotton Bowl and a Citrus Bowl is quite a collection to put on your resume. However, all of those are team accomplishments. Brents didn't receive any personal awards, but that doesn't matter to him.
"I knew I was good enough to make the team," Brents said. "I knew, I just needed the opportunity. And now, my senior year, it doesn't matter if I play 100 snaps or if I play 10. I know I deserve to be here, at this school, on this team. It's a privilege and a blessing that I was given this opportunity. It's up to me to make the best of it."
Brents has been making the most of his opportunity since he arrived on the team in 2012. He thought back to his favorite memory with his teammates, and settled on something that involved the entire Mizzou football community.
"My favorite moment was when the fans rushed the field after we clinched the SEC East in 2013 at home against Texas A&M," Brents said. "I rushed the field as a fan in 2010 when we beat Oklahoma on homecoming night. I always thought, wow, I want to be a part of that on the field. When we finally did it against A&M, that was amazing. I had never seen Mizzou like that, that hyped, with all of the fans around us. It was really cool."
Brents is very excited to be the starting holder this year. But, his goal is still centered around his Mizzou football family, especially his fellow seniors, finishing strong.
"My senior class has had the two winningest years in Mizzou history, 2013 and 2014," Brents said. "The fact that we can build off of that and finish strong is amazing. We've won some really big games together as a group and we want to finish that this year."
Brents is very pleased with his time at Mizzou. He has worked very hard and is excited about starting his final season and becoming "Mizzou Made". That phrase means a lot to Brents, and he knows the responsibilities that come with that title.
"Mizzou Made is not a saying, it's a lifestyle," Brents said. "It's who you are. We are always one of the hardest working teams in the country. Everybody buys in, everyone is invested. Mizzou is a place that you want to be apart of. There is just something in the air here. People say that it's a family because it truly is. I don't regret any decision I made as far as coming to Mizzou. Mizzou Made is not just about football, it's about life after football. Once you come here, you're going to leave with more than just a degree. You'll always have a place to call home."
Brents would like to thank his parents, Terry and Jill Brents for instilling in him the work ethic that he has today. Walking on to a SEC football team is no easy feat, and becoming a starter on that team is more impressive. Brents is on pace to graduate in December with a bachelor's degree in business management and hopes to, one day, open his own business.
