What more do you need to know about Utah running back Devontae Booker? Other than that among fans, he has become a Utah Football favorite and hard worker on the field.
It’s no secret that Booker is able to execute plays on the receiving end while continuing to impress his staff running the ball.
“He’s got great hands. Last year he caught 30 to 40 balls, a lot of touches,” Whittingham said. “When I say 30 touches a game, that’s carries and catches combined. He’s a physical running back, as evidenced by his leading the nation … in yards after contact — [he] certainly led the PAC-12, and, I think, the nation in that category.”
A junior, Booker is respected among his teammates. He was listed as one of five captains for the 2015 season and pegged as a Heisman trophy candidate earlier this spring. Standing still in the midst of all the energy, hype and excitement, Booker is a quiet example to his teammates and peers, but he motivates his teammates and is never idle when it comes to practice.
“I’m just ready to play,” Booker said. “I’m really ready to get this game [against Michigan] over with — everyone hyping it up. I’m ready to get the hype over with and just play this game. I’ve just been hearing too much about it, even on campus. I mean, every game is like this, but it’s not a big deal to us, we are just going to go out there and play hard.”
To be ready for the season, Booker and his teammates have followed the necessary procedures during practice to equate the level of intensity they will each face in a game.
“We’re all tough, so no matter what it is that we gotta go through, we all fight through it and continue to work,” said Booker. “Even when gotta run gasers or whatever Coach Whitt makes us run, or those crazy Saturday practices — we all just come together and fight through it and get it done.”
Booker feels confident in Utah’s run game and what it will bring to the competition against Michigan on Thursday.
“You know, with our great group of guys on the line, they are going to open up the line for me and get some great runs in and gain good yardage,” said Booker. “It’s there, I love it, and we’re going to make something happen.”
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