Austin Booker

Austin Booker
No. 94 – Chicago Bears
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (2002-12-14) December 14, 2002 (age 22)
Greenwood, Indiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:Center Grove
(Greenwood, Indiana)
College:Minnesota (2021–2022)
Kansas (2023)
NFL draft:2024 / round: 5 / pick: 144
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Austin Booker (born December 14, 2002) is an American professional football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Kansas Jayhawks.

Early life

Booker attended Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana. As a junior, he had 67 tackles and eight sacks. He committed to the University of Minnesota to play college football.[1]

College career

Booker played at Minnesota from 2021 to 2022. After redshirting his first year, he played in six games in 2022 and had two tackles. After the season, he entered the transfer portal and transferred to the University of Kansas.[2][3] In his lone season at Kansas, he played in 12 games and had 56 tackles and eight sacks.[4] After the season, he entered the 2024 NFL draft.[5] He sat out the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl in order to prepare for the draft.[6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 4+1⁄2 in
(1.94 m) 		240 lb
(109 kg) 		33+7⁄8 in
(0.86 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.78 s 1.69 s 2.80 s 4.47 s 7.28 s 32.5 in
(0.83 m)		 10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[7][8]

Booker was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round with the 144th overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.[9] He signed a four-year contract with the team on May 16.[10]

References

  1. ^ Neddenriep, Kyle (May 31, 2020). "Football recruiting: Center Grove's Booker commits to Minnesota, Pike's Montgomery cuts list". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Greder, Andy (December 1, 2022). "Gophers defensive end Austin Booker plans to transfer out". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Laddha, Shreyas (March 23, 2023). "Kansas took two D-line transfers from Minnesota. They think Jayhawks are 'hungrier'". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Beas, Mike (October 3, 2023). "Center Grove grad Booker excelling after transfer to Kansas". Daily Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Guskey, Jordan (January 5, 2024). "Kansas football defensive lineman Austin Booker declares for 2024 NFL draft". The Topeka-Capital Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Laddha, Shreyas (December 24, 2023). "Kansas Jayhawks football's Dominick Puni, Austin Booker opt out of Guaranteed Rate Bowl". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  7. ^ "Austin Booker Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Austin Booker College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Hajduk, Gabby (April 27, 2024). "Bears make trade with Bills, select Kansas DL Austin Booker in fifth round". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  10. ^ Mayer, Larry (May 16, 2024). "Roster Move: Bears sign rookie DE Austin Booker". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.