Dante Booker is reuniting with his former Ohio State position coach in the NFL.
The former Ohio State linebacker is signing with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent after going unselected in the 2019 NFL draft on Saturday, his agent announced on Twitter.
Congratulations Dante Booker, Jr. - signed with the @AZCardinals !! #KMMfam pic.twitter.com/AgGyH4ggbQ
— Kelli Masters Mgmt (@KMMsports) April 28, 2019
Former Ohio State linebackers coach Bill Davis was hired by the Cardinals as their new linebackers coach in January.
Earlier in his career, Booker was viewed as a player who had the potential to be an early-round draft pick, but the end of his career did not unfold as expected. He suffered a knee injury in the season opener in 2016, then missed the end of the 2017 season with a shoulder injury after beginning the year as a starter. As a backup linebacker this past season, Booker played only 77 defensive snaps.
Now, though, he'll get his chance to compete for a roster spot at the next level. He'll need to establish himself on special teams, where he saw more regular playing time at Ohio State, in order to prove he belongs on the roster as a backup linebacker, but his existing relationship with Davis could help him quickly acclimate himself in Arizona.
