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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
URBAN MEYER SAYS LINEBACKER DANTE BOOKER WILL PLAY AGAINST PENN STATE
Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...ker-dante-booker-will-play-against-penn-state
Dante Booker to Return for the Buckeyes Saturday at Penn State
Meyer wasn’t ready to commit to Booker as the starter… yet
“I didn’t say Dante’s going to start,” the head coach said. “He’s not at 100 percent yet.”
Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...eturn-for-the-Buckeyes-Saturday-at-Penn-State
Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...ker-dante-booker-will-play-against-penn-state
Dante Booker to Return for the Buckeyes Saturday at Penn State
Meyer wasn’t ready to commit to Booker as the starter… yet
“I didn’t say Dante’s going to start,” the head coach said. “He’s not at 100 percent yet.”
Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...eturn-for-the-Buckeyes-Saturday-at-Penn-State
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Redshirt Year for Dante Booker Possible but Still Up in the Air
When the season began, Dante Booker took the field against Bowling Green as Ohio State's starting Will linebacker. By the time the game ended, he wasn't.
It isn't that Booker didn't play well. He suffered a knee injury in the second half of that season-opener, an injury that he has been slow to recover from. Booker has not seen the field since the Bowling Green game because of that injury, but he is now fully recovered and available to play. Now the question is would that be in the best interests of Booker or the OSU program, or would a redshirt year make more sense.
"It’s something that we’ve discussed," said OSU linebacker coach and defensive coordinator Luke Fickell.
"Each and every week Dante and I sit down, probably on a Monday night, and kind of rehash and see where we are.
"I’d say for the first time last week I’d say he’s back to being a full go. He looked good, made some good plants, had some confidence on his leg. He’s available for us to go ahead and play. Now we just have to make a wise decision based on what’s best for this team."
The advantage to playing him is obvious. He's one more able body to help the OSU defense, but there are advantages to not playing him as well, namely to get him an extra year of eligibility.
"The greatest thing about it is that Dante is fully committed to this team, and whatever this team needs he is willing to do," continued Fickell.
"He’s not willing to look at it in a selfish aspect of any means.
"Some people would say ‘I haven’t played yet, I have a chance to redshirt, I could use another year.’
"The reality is that he knows whatever is going to be best for this team. If we have the option, if we have that luxury, if something happens where we don’t need him, then we could possibly do that."
Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...Dante-Booker-Possible-but-Still-Up-in-the-Air
When the season began, Dante Booker took the field against Bowling Green as Ohio State's starting Will linebacker. By the time the game ended, he wasn't.
It isn't that Booker didn't play well. He suffered a knee injury in the second half of that season-opener, an injury that he has been slow to recover from. Booker has not seen the field since the Bowling Green game because of that injury, but he is now fully recovered and available to play. Now the question is would that be in the best interests of Booker or the OSU program, or would a redshirt year make more sense.
"It’s something that we’ve discussed," said OSU linebacker coach and defensive coordinator Luke Fickell.
"Each and every week Dante and I sit down, probably on a Monday night, and kind of rehash and see where we are.
"I’d say for the first time last week I’d say he’s back to being a full go. He looked good, made some good plants, had some confidence on his leg. He’s available for us to go ahead and play. Now we just have to make a wise decision based on what’s best for this team."
The advantage to playing him is obvious. He's one more able body to help the OSU defense, but there are advantages to not playing him as well, namely to get him an extra year of eligibility.
"The greatest thing about it is that Dante is fully committed to this team, and whatever this team needs he is willing to do," continued Fickell.
"He’s not willing to look at it in a selfish aspect of any means.
"Some people would say ‘I haven’t played yet, I have a chance to redshirt, I could use another year.’
"The reality is that he knows whatever is going to be best for this team. If we have the option, if we have that luxury, if something happens where we don’t need him, then we could possibly do that."
Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...Dante-Booker-Possible-but-Still-Up-in-the-Air
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
ENTERING HIS FOURTH YEAR AT OHIO STATE, DANTE BOOKER MIGHT FINALLY GET CHANCE TO SHOW WHAT HE CAN DO
As with any team, Ohio State has some question marks heading into its 2017 season.
How will the Buckeyes overcome the loss of three members in the secondary for the second-straight year? With Kevin Wilson now at the controls, will the offense get back to what it was during the national championship campaign in 2014? Can Ohio State return to the College Football Playoff for the third time in four seasons?
These are general inquiries, broad questions about the overall landscape of this year’s Buckeyes. We won’t get many of those answers until the actual football starts.
Right now, though, Ohio State is in the middle of spring practice. The Buckeyes are two weeks in as they prepare for the spring game scheduled for Saturday, April 15. This is a time when Ohio State — and its fans — can potentially find some answers to questions that are a bit less complex.
One of those stems from the defensive side of the football and that is trying to figure out who, exactly, Dante Booker is. The redshirt junior linebacker is a bit of a mystery to everybody outside the walls of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, yet he’s been a starter in spring practice for the last two seasons.
Booker was slated to be the Buckeyes’ starting WILL linebacker in 2016, replacing a three-year starter in Joshua Perry. He went through spring practice and then solidified his spot in fall camp. When Ohio State opened the season at home against Bowling Green, Booker started at one linebacker spot alongside Raekwon McMillan and Chris Worley.
But the Akron native suffered a knee injury in that game — it was later revealed to be an MCL sprain — that sidelined him for a couple of weeks. In his absence, then-sophomore Jerome Baker filled in and emerged into a star. Booker didn’t play the rest of the season.
McMillan left early for the NFL and Worley slid over to the middle, so that left Ohio State with an open spot at the SAM linebacker spot this spring. Throughout the first two weeks of spring practice, it has been Booker running with the first-team defense in that position.
For two years now, it appears Booker will be a starting linebacker for the Buckeyes. Nobody has really seen him play many snaps, though.
So, who, exactly, is Dante Booker? The people who are around him every day offered some insight.
“I see a guy that has a burning desire to be great,” Worley said of Booker. “That’s something you look for in a team and in a coach on a team, honestly. A lot of times you see guys get hurt and they walk around with their head down and just feel like, ‘Aw, maybe next year.’ I saw last year a guy that wouldn’t take no for an answer. It just happened to be his body wasn’t ready for it.”
Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...oker-might-finally-get-chance-to-show-what-he
As with any team, Ohio State has some question marks heading into its 2017 season.
How will the Buckeyes overcome the loss of three members in the secondary for the second-straight year? With Kevin Wilson now at the controls, will the offense get back to what it was during the national championship campaign in 2014? Can Ohio State return to the College Football Playoff for the third time in four seasons?
These are general inquiries, broad questions about the overall landscape of this year’s Buckeyes. We won’t get many of those answers until the actual football starts.
Right now, though, Ohio State is in the middle of spring practice. The Buckeyes are two weeks in as they prepare for the spring game scheduled for Saturday, April 15. This is a time when Ohio State — and its fans — can potentially find some answers to questions that are a bit less complex.
One of those stems from the defensive side of the football and that is trying to figure out who, exactly, Dante Booker is. The redshirt junior linebacker is a bit of a mystery to everybody outside the walls of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, yet he’s been a starter in spring practice for the last two seasons.
Booker was slated to be the Buckeyes’ starting WILL linebacker in 2016, replacing a three-year starter in Joshua Perry. He went through spring practice and then solidified his spot in fall camp. When Ohio State opened the season at home against Bowling Green, Booker started at one linebacker spot alongside Raekwon McMillan and Chris Worley.
But the Akron native suffered a knee injury in that game — it was later revealed to be an MCL sprain — that sidelined him for a couple of weeks. In his absence, then-sophomore Jerome Baker filled in and emerged into a star. Booker didn’t play the rest of the season.
McMillan left early for the NFL and Worley slid over to the middle, so that left Ohio State with an open spot at the SAM linebacker spot this spring. Throughout the first two weeks of spring practice, it has been Booker running with the first-team defense in that position.
For two years now, it appears Booker will be a starting linebacker for the Buckeyes. Nobody has really seen him play many snaps, though.
So, who, exactly, is Dante Booker? The people who are around him every day offered some insight.
“I see a guy that has a burning desire to be great,” Worley said of Booker. “That’s something you look for in a team and in a coach on a team, honestly. A lot of times you see guys get hurt and they walk around with their head down and just feel like, ‘Aw, maybe next year.’ I saw last year a guy that wouldn’t take no for an answer. It just happened to be his body wasn’t ready for it.”
Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...oker-might-finally-get-chance-to-show-what-he
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
DANTE BOOKER'S SPEED, EXPLOSIVENESS LED OHIO STATE TO KEEP HIM AT OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
When Raekwon McMillan made his expected announcement to turn pro, rumors swirled about his replacement in the middle of Ohio State's defense. A starter for back-to-back seasons, the man the Miami Dolphins took in the second round of the NFL Draft leaves behind massive expectations.
Chris Worley played strong side linebacker, or SAM, for the Buckeyes in 2016. He repped at MIKE during spring practice in place of McMillan, while Dante Booker took his place and Jerome Baker kept hold of his starting job at WILL. Booker started at WILL in last year's season opener but went down with a sprained MCL and never played again because of Baker's rapid rise to stardom.
Worley had a fine season at SAM, which led many to believe he would stay there for 2017 and Booker (or someone else) would step in for McMillan as the new man in the middle. Instead, it is Booker's name slated atop the depth chart at SAM linebacker.
Why? Well, to put it bluntly, he is a freak.
“Just because he is long doesn't mean he is not explosive and quick. He may be our fastest linebacker,” new linebackers coach Billy Davis said recently. “He may be our quickest to be honest with you. Dante has got explosion in his body, and that is what you need in space.”
With McMillan gone, Booker is easily the most physically imposing linebacker Ohio State has on its roster, outside of true freshman Baron Browning. Both weigh around 240 pounds and stand at 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 but the freshman missed the latter half of spring with a shoulder injury. Baker is listed at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds and Worley is 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds.
According to Davis, the SAM and WILL are interchangeable positions within Ohio State's scheme and he stressed to each of the players in his meeting room the need to know all three linebacker spots in the event of an emergency. But Booker has an edge to him, both because he missed time with injury a year ago and because that's how he moves through his daily life.
“Dante is just wired as a competitor,” Davis said. “If we go winner/loser in anything, you can ask any of the backers, everybody has got their money on Dante. He is going to win, and he is going to find a way.”
Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...-ohio-state-to-keep-him-at-outside-linebacker
When Raekwon McMillan made his expected announcement to turn pro, rumors swirled about his replacement in the middle of Ohio State's defense. A starter for back-to-back seasons, the man the Miami Dolphins took in the second round of the NFL Draft leaves behind massive expectations.
Chris Worley played strong side linebacker, or SAM, for the Buckeyes in 2016. He repped at MIKE during spring practice in place of McMillan, while Dante Booker took his place and Jerome Baker kept hold of his starting job at WILL. Booker started at WILL in last year's season opener but went down with a sprained MCL and never played again because of Baker's rapid rise to stardom.
Worley had a fine season at SAM, which led many to believe he would stay there for 2017 and Booker (or someone else) would step in for McMillan as the new man in the middle. Instead, it is Booker's name slated atop the depth chart at SAM linebacker.
Why? Well, to put it bluntly, he is a freak.
“Just because he is long doesn't mean he is not explosive and quick. He may be our fastest linebacker,” new linebackers coach Billy Davis said recently. “He may be our quickest to be honest with you. Dante has got explosion in his body, and that is what you need in space.”
With McMillan gone, Booker is easily the most physically imposing linebacker Ohio State has on its roster, outside of true freshman Baron Browning. Both weigh around 240 pounds and stand at 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 but the freshman missed the latter half of spring with a shoulder injury. Baker is listed at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds and Worley is 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds.
According to Davis, the SAM and WILL are interchangeable positions within Ohio State's scheme and he stressed to each of the players in his meeting room the need to know all three linebacker spots in the event of an emergency. But Booker has an edge to him, both because he missed time with injury a year ago and because that's how he moves through his daily life.
“Dante is just wired as a competitor,” Davis said. “If we go winner/loser in anything, you can ask any of the backers, everybody has got their money on Dante. He is going to win, and he is going to find a way.”
Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...-ohio-state-to-keep-him-at-outside-linebacker
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
J.T. BARRETT AND DANTE BOOKER HEAD TO ECUADOR AS PART OF SOLES4SOULS
Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...or-as-part-of-ohio-states-soles4souls-program
Just sayin': The "good stuff' that college football players do never get the publicity that the "bad stuff" does.
Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...or-as-part-of-ohio-states-soles4souls-program
Just sayin': The "good stuff' that college football players do never get the publicity that the "bad stuff" does.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Dante Booker is Just What the Buckeyes are Looking for in a Sam Linebacker
The Ohio State defense has only had two players start at their Sam linebacker position since they implemented their current defense back in 2014.
Those two players are Darron Lee and Chris Worley, and both came to Ohio State as safeties.
That background in the secondary helped them at the walk-out linebacker position because they found themselves in coverage out in space quite a bit. More importantly, however, the athleticism necessary to play defensive back in high school translated very well to the responsibilities that the Sam linebacker has in this Buckeye defense.
With Worley returning in 2017, it was thought that maybe Dante Booker would move to the middle to replace Raekwon McMillan. Instead, spring opened with Worley in the middle and Booker -- all 6-foot-3 and 240-odd pounds of him -- walked out at Sam.
Former Buckeye defensive coordinator Luke Fickell tried to tell people a year ago how great of an athlete Booker was, but there was still surprise when he showed up at Sam instead of Worley or Jerome Baker.
Heck, there were some scouts in high school who thought Booker would eventually grow into a defensive end. Now he's playing a linebacker spot that is intended to reduce the need for a fifth defensive back.
Back in the spring, Baker laughed at the notion that Booker wasn't athletic enough to handle the job. He warned the media not to let Booker hear that talk.
"I’m sure if Book was to hear that, I’m sure he’d lose his smile," he said. "The Will and the Sam you can change them in and out. They’re pretty much for the most part the same position. So as far as saying the more athletic guy is out there, that’s not really saying anything. You could put me or Book out there. I’m pretty sure if Book was to hear this he would go a little crazy."
Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...-Buckeyes-are-Looking-for-in-a-Sam-Linebacker
The Ohio State defense has only had two players start at their Sam linebacker position since they implemented their current defense back in 2014.
Those two players are Darron Lee and Chris Worley, and both came to Ohio State as safeties.
That background in the secondary helped them at the walk-out linebacker position because they found themselves in coverage out in space quite a bit. More importantly, however, the athleticism necessary to play defensive back in high school translated very well to the responsibilities that the Sam linebacker has in this Buckeye defense.
With Worley returning in 2017, it was thought that maybe Dante Booker would move to the middle to replace Raekwon McMillan. Instead, spring opened with Worley in the middle and Booker -- all 6-foot-3 and 240-odd pounds of him -- walked out at Sam.
Former Buckeye defensive coordinator Luke Fickell tried to tell people a year ago how great of an athlete Booker was, but there was still surprise when he showed up at Sam instead of Worley or Jerome Baker.
Heck, there were some scouts in high school who thought Booker would eventually grow into a defensive end. Now he's playing a linebacker spot that is intended to reduce the need for a fifth defensive back.
Back in the spring, Baker laughed at the notion that Booker wasn't athletic enough to handle the job. He warned the media not to let Booker hear that talk.
"I’m sure if Book was to hear that, I’m sure he’d lose his smile," he said. "The Will and the Sam you can change them in and out. They’re pretty much for the most part the same position. So as far as saying the more athletic guy is out there, that’s not really saying anything. You could put me or Book out there. I’m pretty sure if Book was to hear this he would go a little crazy."
Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...-Buckeyes-are-Looking-for-in-a-Sam-Linebacker
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
TAKE TWO: OHIO STATE LINEBACKER DANTE BOOKER GETTING SECOND CHANCE AT BREAKOUT SEASON
COLUMBUS – Last year was supposed to be Dante Booker’s breakout year.
The four-star recruit from Akron entered 2016 as a starter on Ohio State’s defense after beating out Jerome Baker for the weakside linebacker job. Booker’s season came to an end after just 12 plays, however, when he tore his MCL in the Buckeyes’ season opener against Bowling Green.
That opened the door for Baker to become a star on the Buckeyes’ defense and a potential future first-round NFL draft pick. Had Booker been healthy, however, it’s possible he could have done the same.
In line to be the Buckeyes’ starting strongside linebacker in 2017, Booker is getting another chance to do just that.
"It was definitely frustrating," Booker said of last season. "You earn a starting spot, all the work you put in. But injuries happen. It's a sacrifice you've got to make when you're playing football. I feel like there’s another chance at it, another swing at it. I'm looking forward to it."
Ohio State linebackers coach Billy Davis likes what he’s seen from Booker in fall camp.
"I think Dante is taking strides every day," Davis said. "We’re really excited about him. He’s got the explosiveness, the twitch, the speed, the power, all that stuff."
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...oker-getting-second-chance-at-breakout-season
COLUMBUS – Last year was supposed to be Dante Booker’s breakout year.
The four-star recruit from Akron entered 2016 as a starter on Ohio State’s defense after beating out Jerome Baker for the weakside linebacker job. Booker’s season came to an end after just 12 plays, however, when he tore his MCL in the Buckeyes’ season opener against Bowling Green.
That opened the door for Baker to become a star on the Buckeyes’ defense and a potential future first-round NFL draft pick. Had Booker been healthy, however, it’s possible he could have done the same.
In line to be the Buckeyes’ starting strongside linebacker in 2017, Booker is getting another chance to do just that.
"It was definitely frustrating," Booker said of last season. "You earn a starting spot, all the work you put in. But injuries happen. It's a sacrifice you've got to make when you're playing football. I feel like there’s another chance at it, another swing at it. I'm looking forward to it."
Ohio State linebackers coach Billy Davis likes what he’s seen from Booker in fall camp.
"I think Dante is taking strides every day," Davis said. "We’re really excited about him. He’s got the explosiveness, the twitch, the speed, the power, all that stuff."
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...oker-getting-second-chance-at-breakout-season
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Dante Booker headlined Ohio State’s dominant defensive effort against Rutgers
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Don’t sleep on LB Dante Booker
Jerome Baker entered this season as the team’s most-versatile linebacker since Darron Lee, and Chris Worley has proven to be plenty capable of policing the opposition’s A-gaps. Still, Booker was the best linebacker on the field Saturday night. Talent was never the question, as Booker stands 6’3” and weighs 230 pounds with 4.4 speed. Watching him start to put everything together and take advantage of opportunities has been a great development for the defense:
Entire article: https://www.landgrantholyland.com/2...te-defensive-film-review-rutgers-dante-booker
Don’t sleep on LB Dante Booker
Jerome Baker entered this season as the team’s most-versatile linebacker since Darron Lee, and Chris Worley has proven to be plenty capable of policing the opposition’s A-gaps. Still, Booker was the best linebacker on the field Saturday night. Talent was never the question, as Booker stands 6’3” and weighs 230 pounds with 4.4 speed. Watching him start to put everything together and take advantage of opportunities has been a great development for the defense:
Entire article: https://www.landgrantholyland.com/2...te-defensive-film-review-rutgers-dante-booker
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Buckeye86
I do not choose to discuss it
He played a helluva game against PSU. The difference between Ohio State and other teams is having a linebacker like Booker who didn’t get beat to the edge by Barkley.
There was one play in particular in the first half that was damn close to Barkley getting to the edge and breaking a long, possibly TD run... and Booker ran him down for a three year gain.
Granted, it was too close for comfort, but most LBs would have been instantly burnt when Barkley bounced it and Booker made a helluva athletic play to track him down.
He stood out on several other notable plays as well. He’s outshining Baker and might be developing into our best LB.
I look forward to continuing to watch him develop.
There was one play in particular in the first half that was damn close to Barkley getting to the edge and breaking a long, possibly TD run... and Booker ran him down for a three year gain.
Granted, it was too close for comfort, but most LBs would have been instantly burnt when Barkley bounced it and Booker made a helluva athletic play to track him down.
He stood out on several other notable plays as well. He’s outshining Baker and might be developing into our best LB.
I look forward to continuing to watch him develop.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Football: Dante Booker to return and more from Urban Meyer on the Big Ten coaches teleconference
No. 9 Ohio State will receive some reinforcements in its upcoming rivalry game against No. 24 Michigan with redshirt junior linebacker Dante Booker cleared to play, head coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches teleconference.
Booker had missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury, and was replaced by sophomore Malik Harrison against Michigan State and redshirt senior Chris Worley against Illinois.
“He’ll be cleared. So that’s good news,” Meyer said Tuesday. “He’s going to practice today.”
The return of Ohio State’s third starting linebacker will be a welcomed sight to a team looking to slow down Michigan’s potent rushing offense. Meyer said the play of running back Karan Higdon has stood out to him in his preparation for the Wolverines’ offense heading into the game.
Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2017/11/...-meyer-on-the-big-ten-coaches-teleconference/
No. 9 Ohio State will receive some reinforcements in its upcoming rivalry game against No. 24 Michigan with redshirt junior linebacker Dante Booker cleared to play, head coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches teleconference.
Booker had missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury, and was replaced by sophomore Malik Harrison against Michigan State and redshirt senior Chris Worley against Illinois.
“He’ll be cleared. So that’s good news,” Meyer said Tuesday. “He’s going to practice today.”
The return of Ohio State’s third starting linebacker will be a welcomed sight to a team looking to slow down Michigan’s potent rushing offense. Meyer said the play of running back Karan Higdon has stood out to him in his preparation for the Wolverines’ offense heading into the game.
Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2017/11/...-meyer-on-the-big-ten-coaches-teleconference/
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