Fall Camp Spotlight: Dante Booker
8/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 10, 2016
Name: Dante Booker
Year: Junior
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 236
Hometown: Akron, Ohio
High School: St. Vincent-St. Mary
2015 Statistics: 22 tackles, 1 TFL
by Chris Cullum, Ohio State Athletics Communications
If you happen to be looking for a linebacker prototype, look no further than Dante Booker. The junior from Akron, Ohio has seen action in 22 games as a Buckeye, but this season he’ll be filling in for the outgoing Joshua Perry, a fourth round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers. Those are some big shoes to fill, but if anyone is qualified to do so, it’s Booker.
Take a look at the resume: he stands at an imposing 6-foot-3 and weighs in at a solid 236 pounds (up from 210 as an incoming freshman); he was named Mr. Football for the state of Ohio in 2013, the first defensive player to win the award in nearly 20 years; he was a consensus top-10 recruit at his position. He even has an excellent reference from his position coach.
“He’s a grinder, he works his tail off,” said defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell. “He has unbelievable ability and now it’s his time to shine.
“Dante is one of those guys that, when you’re talking about a running, striking, hitting, tackling guy, he’s off the charts.”
So, in his own words, what would Dante Booker say he has to improve on as he continues to battle for a starting position?
“Mental aspects,” he said. “Knowing my job, knowing my assignments, working on the fundamentals. Making sure I step with the right foot. Everything fundamental is really a mental aspect of the game.”
“He’s been one of the best fundamental guys we’ve had,” Fickell said of Booker, “and now he’s thrown into a situation where it’s his time to lead and be the guy. Sometimes that’s when it [mental game] goes in the other direction.”
That’s not to say Booker hasn’t seen any meaningful football during his career, far from it. As a true freshman his single-game high for snaps came in the Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama, just narrowly edging out his snap total from the Big Ten championship game. His best statistical games from this past season came against Penn State, Virginia Tech, and Michigan, all three of which competed in bowls.
So where Booker may be lacking the quantity of reps, he certainly doesn’t lack in quality, a fact that isn’t lost on the junior.
“I wouldn’t say it was tough, I still contributed a little,” Booker said. “I gave it all I could. I love these guys, love these linebackers, love this team.”
Competing in his first camp as the favorite to win the starting job, Booker says everything is going well and he feels comfortable in his new role.
“I feel really confident about it,” he said. “I feel really confident about standing next to Raekwon [McMillan] and Chris Worley. I’m ready to go.”
