The Gophers have received a commitment from Greenwood, Indiana, defensive end Austin Booker. He chose Minnesota over offers from Iowa, Indiana, Oregon, Purdue, Arizona State and others. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound pass rusher is a three-star prospect, according to 24/7 Sports. Booker ranks No. 10 among Indiana recruits, per 24/7 Composite rankings. He posted 67 tackles (14 for loss) and eight sacks in 2019.
Booker’s skill set features length, explosiveness and a quick first step. There are several moves where he uses his hands and sets up rushes with rips or swims. Booker is a very methodical rusher and occasionally redirects his moves inside. Additionally, he dips and bends around the corner well to create pressure. Within a few reps, he also utilized his quickness to cause disruptions off stunts. Booker can continue adding weight to his frame and has unique physical traits for defensive line coach Chad Wilt to work with.
After adding talent at the skill spots, P.J. Fleck and his staff are addressing the trenches on both sides of the ball. This was the next step to successfully round out the 2021 class.
Here’s a look at Booker’s highlights: