Scouting Reports
Austin Booker NFL Draft Scouting Report
Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas
Size:
Height: 6’4.5”
Weight: 240 pounds
Arm Length: 33 7/8"
Hand Size: 9 1/4"
Accomplishments:
3-star recruit
"Austin Booker has ideal length combined with an explosive first step that should help him contribute as a designated pass rusher early in his career."
Strengths:
Explosive first step
Arm length/wingspan
Athleticism
Usage-versatile
Concerns:
Developing detailed pass-rush plan
Lower-body tightness
Strength at point of attack
Film Analysis:
Austin Booker is a redshirt junior who started his career off at Minnesota. Booker transferred to Kansas and statistically had the best year of his career, posting a stat line of 56 tackles, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles. Booker has an explosive first step and great length at the edge position, which are two main traits that allow him to be an impactful player rushing the quarterback.
As a pass rusher, Booker does a good job with his first-step explosiveness and allows that to dictate the rest of the rush. His first step immediately puts him in a good position to win the outside arc or to get the offensive lineman to overset and he can simply take the inside counter. Booker's length can be disruptive as he can affect quarterbacks by applying pressure to them by simply being in their area.
Playing the pass, Booker can also drop in coverage and play the hook/curl to flat, giving the defense a different coverage look the offense potentially wasn't expecting. While doing that, he showed the ability to close the distance to ball-carriers in the flat and make the tackle.
Booker's improvement as a player would be in the run game. Booker has a tall, lean frame which serves him well as a pass rusher but has disadvantages against the run. Trying to set the edge, Booker can at times play too high and lose the leverage battle at the line of scrimmage, being displaced off the line. Booker also appears to need to get stronger throughout his frame to be able to hold up. Booker has a frame that can add additional weight and that would help improve his value as a player.
Overall, Booker profiles as a player who should be utilized on known passing downs as he has the physical tools to make an impact, but there will be a development curve for him playing the run.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Kansas State (2023), Illinois (2023), Texas (2023)