Former Grant Union High School running back Devontae Booker auditioned before approximately 20 NFL team representatives during his pro-day workout in his hometown of Sacramento’s Del Paso Heights, on Tuesday morning.
Booker, a 5 foot 11 inch, 219 pound running back who played at Utah, returned to the same football field where he made a name for himself as a prep star with the Grant Pacers to hold his first pre-draft workout in preparation for the April 28 NFL Draft.
Unable to attend March’s NFL Combine due to two surgeries to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, Booker demonstrated his route running and receiving techniques – complete with quick cuts and pivots expected at the NFL level.
“I’ve only been running for about two weeks,” Booker told ABC10. “They were really impressed to see what I could do.”
In a double-overtime loss to Arizona last November, Booker’s senior season was cut short after suffering his knee injury after 10 games with Utah. He had his first operation on the knee and recovery was expected to last four-to-six weeks. He had the second procedure in February.
Because he’s not quite 100 percent, Booker was not able to show-off any jumping or sprints for the various scouts and coaches attending Tuesday’s workout.
“I just wanted to show them that I was getting back to normal,” Booker said. I just came out here, showed that I could run and do some cuts and go from there.”
Representatives from the 49ers, Broncos, Cardinals, Colts, Falcons, Jaguars, Panthers, Patriots and Seahawks watched from the end zone of Mike Alberghini Field on the school’s campus. Booker said his NFL team visits begin with leaving for Miami on Wednesday, followed by stops in Pittsburgh and New England.
Among them, Oakland Raiders’ offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave was present and even took the lead as coach – instructing Booker’s various activities.
Alberghini, the longtime Pacers’ head coach, helped mold Booker into a Division-I talent until 2010. Known as Devontae Butler until his sophomore season, Booker would eventually graduate from Grant and take the junior college route before landing with Utah.
During his two-seasons at American River College in Sacramento, Booker rushed for over 2,200 yards and 36 touchdowns. His two seasons with Utah, he rushed for 2,773 yards and found the end zone 21 times, while gaining national attention in his senior season as a potential Heisman Trophy finalist before his season was ended with the knee injury.
While continuing his rehabilitation of his injury with Sacramento based trainer Dan Jameson, Booker said he was pain-free and hasn’t experience any limitations. He chose to hold his pro-day workout at Grant to be near family and friends to be an example to others as someone who rose to success from Del Paso Heights – known as one of the roughest communities in the Sacramento area.
“My parents live right around the corner,” Booker said. “I didn’t want to fly all the way back to Utah to do a (workout) when I could just (do) it right here at my high school.”
Word quickly spread that Booker was using Grant Union High School as the site for his NFL pro-day workout, and it drew approximately 200 people in the bleachers to witness the workout.
