As I watch Cal play Utah, I'm watching Booker from Utah and I remember watching him while he played at Grant. I hope I'm not reaching to suggest that he can play on Sundays. I don't know where he is rated on anyone's draft board but I feel he will be in someone's camp next year. If he makes a NFL roster he would be the third member of Grant's 2009 team to do so. In fact this is the second time that Grant has had a pair of former teammates in the NFL concurrently. Onterrio Smith and Donte Stallworth did it first and now Shaq Thompson and James Sample are in the league. I would love to see Booker get a chance in the league, and that would be quite an accomplishment should that happen. I know that some might want to harp on the fact that this team didnt win the section, but Im only speaking on this rare accomplishment and how it has happened twice at Grant.
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- Thread starter hofwhscos
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Very cool to potentially have three NFLers from one team. Booker is one of the top backs I've seen in college the last two years. Should definitely get his chance.
Everyone seems to be on the Fournette bandwagon, and he is certainly a nice player, but I think Zeke Elliott and Devontae Booker are better all-around backs. Both are phenomenal pass catchers out of the backfield and both are good in pass protection and as lead blockers --- Elliott especially. Booker isn't as big as the other 2, but he leads the Nation in yards after contact and is always falling forward. I've read that there is a 1st round grade on him, but the position is so devalued in the NFL now that I don't see him going earlier than round 2.
Thunderram said it well. I think what separates booker is his ability to catch passes out like a receiver and get yards after the catch. He absolutely dominated cal. 34 carries for 225 yards and 2 TDs. Wow. He doesn't have bad size. 5"11 215 or so? Love to see the Pacers represent or any of our local kids for that matter.
I like Booker because he's as good as advertised and Elliott is just a freak of nature. But Fournette is the real deal as a true Sophomore. If I had to chose between the three backs I would have to go with Fournette based on his built, speed and over powering strength.
Fournette is insane. He's 6"1 230 and runs a 4.4. The pro scouts are salivating but don't look past booker. He is going to sneak up on a few.
Booker for sure will get his opportunity to play on Sundays, don't know about a first rounder, but definitely in the 2-3 range.
However, when it comes to Fournette, please remember he is LSU's offense. Les Miles wishes that he could have Travis Wilson (who is no world beater) as his QB, given how bad their QB situation has been the past two years. He is dominating, when teams know to stop LSU's offense, they need to stop him. That's what is scary about what he is doing and all as a true sophomore. The one concern I would have is that he will get overworked at this level at the rate he is going. Look at all the injuries that Bama's RB's (Ingram, Richardson, Lacy) had coming out of college before they ever set foot on an NFL field.
However, when it comes to Fournette, please remember he is LSU's offense. Les Miles wishes that he could have Travis Wilson (who is no world beater) as his QB, given how bad their QB situation has been the past two years. He is dominating, when teams know to stop LSU's offense, they need to stop him. That's what is scary about what he is doing and all as a true sophomore. The one concern I would have is that he will get overworked at this level at the rate he is going. Look at all the injuries that Bama's RB's (Ingram, Richardson, Lacy) had coming out of college before they ever set foot on an NFL field.
Zeke is the same size (maybe 5 pounds lighter) and just as fast or possibly faster. What really separates the two, IMO, are Zeke's abilities as a blocker and pass catcher. Fournette has a long way to go to match him in those areas.
Zeke was a true Sophomore last season and look at his 3-game run to end the season against Wisconsin, Bama and Oregon. Fournette will be hard-pressed to duplicate or surpass that.
Zeke is the most NFL ready back I've seen in a while. Most aren't prepared for the pass protection aspect that is absolutely a requirement at the next level. Most can't be used as a lead blockers as Elliott can. And not all have elite hands and skill in the pass game to do what he and Booker can do.
Right now Fournette reminds me of Darren McFadden when he was in college. Great college back with size, speed, etc. but not sure that he'll be what everyone expects him to be at the next level. Even if he does become a better runner in the NFL, I don't think he'll ever be as skilled as Zeke and Booker in the other aspects. With the way the league is now, you have to develop those skills to be an elite back.
His ability to make yards after first contact is what could keep him in the league for a long while, along with his pass receiving abilities. I think it goes largely un-noticed, but you often see him make 1 or 2 yards when most backs would make no gain or he gets 3 or 4 when others would only get 1 or 2. He has a unique ability to turn his body and slip through the smallest of openings and almost always pushes or falls forward.
IMO, he has a little bit of Emmitt Smith in him. He's a bit bigger and certainly quicker/faster than Emmitt, but it remains to be seen if he can have even half the career Smith did. But I liken his ability to make tough yards to Emmitt.
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