Austin

Booker

A long, lean player with 33.875” length arms, Booker interestingly weighed 240 pounds at the Combine, running a sluggish 4.79s 40-yard dash. At his pro day a month later, Booker weighed 253 pounds and ran a 4.77s 40 which would still be the second-lowest mark from the 2024 Combine edge class. Throw in his 7.28s 3-Cone (64th%) and 10’0” broad (85th%), and Booker’s testing profile adds up to a respectable 7.02 relative athletic score. Booker dips into a wide reservoir of different pass rush techniques designed to test the deficiencies of opposing tackles. While he relishes initiating contact, Booker would rather utilize his superior agility, bend, and savvy to outmaneuver and outthink larger blockers. He lacks upper body mass to be a dominant edge setter, but he’s smart when picking rush lanes to fill and uses his length to stave off opponents and disengage to make plays on the ball carrier. Booker is raw with just one year of collegiate experience under his belt, and lacking in upper body density required to take on blockers at the next level.

Booker pledges to the Gophers over the likes of Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, Iowa and Texas Tech; among others. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound defensive end currently plays at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Illinois; and the folks at 247Sports rank him the 10th best player in the state of Indiana. They also grade him as the 45th best weak-side defensive end, and 669th overall in the class. Minnesota now has 18 known commits, and the Gophers class ranks third in the Big Ten in 247Sports ranks.