Defensive lineman Thomas Booker went to Stanford as a result of he needed a greater understanding of the sport and extra versatility as a participant, traits that might lead him to the NFL.
The 6-foot-3, 303-pound Booker isn’t listed as one of many premier defensive linemen in faculty soccer alongside Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson II or Georgia’s Jordan Davis, however is usually thought-about within the prime 10 to twenty vary on the place. It means the Gilman graduate is probably going on an NFL roster by the tip of the three-day draft, which begins Thursday night time in Las Vegas.
Will he get chosen as an finish or sort out? Booker doesn’t know, and doesn’t care. The versatility is his energy.
“It’s good to have a guy who can play multiple roles at a high level,” mentioned Booker, an Ellicott City resident. “I didn’t play inside or outside occasionally at Stanford but did both evenly, especially in the last two years. You don’t have to take me off the field. You can put me inside on pass rush downs or outside on run downs. Use me like a Swiss Army knife.”
There was a time when defenses, particularly the dominant ones, stayed in a single primary look with solely slight variations. But with offenses beginning to go extra, defenses went into assault mode by altering alignments and making an attempt to create mismatches. Booker has and might play nostril guard, sort out or finish in any scheme, regardless if it’s a 4-3 or a 3-4.
Even extra importantly, he’s laborious to dam.
“I can thrive in both those positions [tackle and end] and hopefully that versatility helps me to get into a rotation where I will be able to contribute,” Booker mentioned. “Whatever franchise takes a chance on me, regardless if I’m a starter or on special teams, I want to contribute to winning football. Individually, I want to challenge for a starting spot.”
Booker began for 3 seasons at Stanford. The former two-time All-Metro first-team participant had a career-high 59 tackles final 12 months, together with 28 solo and 5 for losses to go along with 1 1/2 sacks. Some draft consultants thought he would possibly find yourself a free agent, however Booker doubtless solidified his draft worthiness with spectacular performances within the East-West Shrine Bowl recreation in Las Vegas in February, the NFL scouting mix in Indianapolis in March and at his professional day at Stanford.
Somebody needed to take discover of him operating that 40-yard sprint in 4.94 seconds and bench urgent 225 kilos 31 instances. Booker has an explosive first step, good lateral motion and might shoot gaps, however undoubtedly must work extra along with his arms and getting offensive linemen off his physique.
“Honestly, this entire process has been kind of a rush,” he mentioned. “It’s been numerous preparation for a few particular information factors. For me, the Shrine Bowl, I needed to point out them [scouts] what I might do as a go rusher and a run defender, present them I used to be an entire defensive lineman. I feel I balled out and confirmed I might play in opposition to among the finest gamers within the nation, no matter convention.
“Then the combine, you train for months on about five to seven drills, and you are aware you only get a couple of shots in prime time. But I think I showed my athleticism, I was in the top five in every single drill and was No. 1 in agility drills. So, I think I performed at the maximum level, not just at the basic one.”
Almost almost as spectacular is the truth that Booker is a two-time captain at Stanford, a uncommon accomplishment for many faculty soccer groups. There, he was a primary crew choice for the Senior CLASS Award, which stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School and is awarded to student-athletes with notable achievements in 4 areas: neighborhood, classroom, character and competitors.
His excellence within the classroom made him a two-time choose for the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America first crew, and he was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, also called the “Academic Heisman,” which is awarded to the faculty participant with the most effective mixture of lecturers, neighborhood service and on-field efficiency.
He loves speaking soccer with NFL scouts and assistant coaches. That’s a part of the explanation he went to Stanford.
“At Stanford, they are really big on understanding the why,” Booker mentioned. “They want you to know why they had certain calls, why we play certain techniques. This process can be a grind and to engage in it is definitely humbling. Honestly, I enjoy the different philosophies and talking concepts, actually teaching yourself some new ones.”
That’s classic Booker, in line with his former Gilman coach Biff Poggi, now the assistant head coach at Michigan.
“Thomas is a very special person,” Poggi mentioned. “I’ve known him since he was born. He is the full package, an excellent person, highly intelligent and a superb athlete. He is a culture-changer for an organization. He is loyal, hard-working, honest and all about the team. He is a foundational player and person.”
Poggi virtually had Booker and Mississippi linebacker Chance Campbell on the identical taking part in subject at Gilman, however Campbell later moved over to Calvert Hall. Booker and Campbell, although, are mates who grew up collectively in Ellicott City and attended the identical center faculty. If each get drafted this weekend, there is perhaps some massive events in Howard County.
Booker has had digital visits with the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers and labored out with different native prospects for the Ravens.
“It will be a dream just to hear my name called,” Booker mentioned. “I hooked up with Chance at the scouting combine after we both had pretty good days. Imagine, we were taking middle school math together and now we’re at the same stage, the same precipice, of doing something great.”
NFL DRAFT
Thursday, 8 p.m.
Friday, 7 p.m.
Saturday, midday
TV: ESPN, NFL Network, Chs. 2, 7
Las Vegas
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Source: www.bostonherald.com