ESPN’s Mel Kiper Lists Kansas’ Austin Booker as ‘Need to Know Guy’ in 2024 NFL Draft
Former Kansas pass rusher Austin Booker has been turning heads at an alarming rate this offseason, with multiple scouts catching on to his rising stock.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper, senior analyst for the NFL Draft, raved about Booker listing the Minnesota transfer as one of six “Guys you need to know” in the 2024 NFL Draft Class.
“Austin Booker, he’s a guy at Kansas that has length,” Kiper said. “I love the fact that he showed a little bend at times at 6’4 and 1/2, 240-pounds. What do I love more than anything? I love length, long arms, being able to utilize that ability to deflect passes and keep offensive tackles away from your body.”
Booker showed major flashes throughout the 2023 season, including outings against No. 21 Kansas State with six tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble and against BYU with seven tackles and 1.5 sacks. Booker finished his sophomore campaign with 56 stops, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Kiper finished his thoughts on Booker, saying, “He’s just scratching the surface of what he can be in the National Football League.” Booker has a great chance of hearing his name called in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25th, in Detroit, with the first round of action starting at 7:00 PM CT on NFL Network.
