After a storied high school career, one that saw Dante Booker become the first defensive player to win Ohio’s coveted Mr. Football award in nearly two decades, the talented Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary product signed with Ohio State as part of its highly-touted 2014 recruiting class. The Buckeyes believed with Booker and five-star linebacker Raekwon McMillan, they inked their next two great players at the position with one fell swoop.
After seeing significant playing time as a true freshman, McMillan flourished in his first year as a starter last season, recording a team-high 119 tackles and finishing the year as a finalist for the Butkus Award — given annually to the nation’s top linebacker. With just 29 career tackles — the majority of which on special teams — Booker is yet to achieve such success.
That’s really no fault of his own, however, as Booker spent his first two seasons in Columbus playing behind All-Big Ten linebacker and current San Diego Charger, Joshua Perry. McMillan did not have an NFL talent in front of him when he arrived in Columbus; opportunity for early playing time was there. Booker did not really have that opportunity, despite being a highly-touted recruit in his own right.
With Perry now in the NFL, that opportunity is here.
“It’s definitely exciting, but I just keep the same mindset,” Booker said recently during fall camp. “I’ve just got to keep doing my job and keep going as hard as I can and it’s always good to have some young guys behind you pushing you.”
Booker said it was not difficult to sit and wait his turn behind Perry. Instead, he put his efforts toward being a special teams contributor, waiting until it was his time to be a member of Ohio State’s starting defense.
“I wouldn’t say it was tough,” he said. “I contributed a little, but I gave it all I could. I love these guys, I love these linebackers, I love this team.
“It was uncomfortable not to start, but whatever I can do to help this team and contribute, I’m for it.”
The Buckeyes’ inexperience heading into the 2016 season is well known. Booker certainly falls into that category of inexperienced, but he’s a bit different than some of the other young players in the sense that he’s been around the program for two full seasons now and is entering his third.
“He’s been one of the best fundamental guys we’ve had,” linebackers coach Luke Fickell said of Booker. “Now, all of a sudden, you get thrown in some of those situations where it’s your time to lead and be the guy. Sometimes that’s what goes the other direction, but in general, he’s one of those guys that’s gotta continue to build his confidence in what he does and he’s one of those guys you really want to let fly.”
The Will linebacker, the spot right next to McMillan, is just one of many Ohio State must replace for the 2016 season. Like most of the other new starters on defense, Booker must replace an NFL-caliber player in Perry.
If he can’t play at the same level, the Buckeyes won’t be as good. The junior is up for the challenge.
“I learned a ton,” Booker said. “Big shoes to fill, but [Perry] set a standard for me. I just watched how he worked, how he prepared for the game, prepared for practice. Just really gotta follow in his footsteps.”
