Chris Booker, a four-star interior offensive lineman from Hapeville Charter School in Atlanta, committed to the University of Alabama in February. Booker was considered solid with the early decision, but after receiving additional offers and taking several visits, he decided to completely close his recruitment. He is completely focused on completing his final semester of […]
Chris Booker, a four-star interior offensive lineman from Hapeville Charter School in Atlanta, committed to the University of Alabama in February. Booker was considered solid with the early decision, but after receiving additional offers and taking several visits, he decided to completely close his recruitment. He is completely focused on completing his final semester of high school before early enrollment with the Crimson Tide.
Booker will return to Tuscaloosa next weekend for the home opener against Louisiana-Monroe. He expects to attend most, if not all, home games this fall. Booker will watch the game against Florida State from home on Saturday.
“I’m excited to see Ty Simpson,” Booker said. “I am happy he won the starting job. I’m ready to see Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford. I want to see the whole offensive line in general—just see how they work together and go for another great season as a unit.”
“There’s been a lot of talk over the internet, but you know that the work you put in speaks for itself. I know we are going to go down to Tallahassee and leave 1–0.”
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman attended a few games at Bryant-Denny Stadium last fall and also visited for spring practice. He expects Alabama will have a great season after speaking with coaches, players, and reading plenty of press updates regading the expectations this season.
“Just from what I’m hearing, we expect to have a great season,” he said. “From what I see, I think it’s going to be an excellent season. I think with the seniors coming back we have great leaders and everyone is doing their part. We are definitely going to make a push for the national championship, no doubt.”
Booker has remained in close contact with the Crimson Tide this month. He speaks with the staff at least once each week, which includes conversations with offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic, Jatavius Sanders, Courtney Morgan, and Eron Hodges.
“I pretty much just talk to them about practice and stuff like that, maybe talk about life,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not just about football. It’s a family. I know if I have any questions, even not football-related, I can talk to them.
“They’ll talk to me about things where I’ve done well and can be better. I get words of encouragement and constructive criticism. At the end of the day, they want me to be the best player and person I can be. They’re always great conversations.”
A few schools have continued contacting Booker, but he has no plans to visit elsewhere. The four-star took official visits to Florida, Georgia, and Ole Miss before shutting down his recruitment.
“It was a blessing to have those schools in constant communication, trying to get me to come play for their program,” he said. “It’s a blessing that I’m shut down and I get to play for one of the best programs in the country.”
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This is what Booker had to say in our previous interview after he announced his solidarity with the Crimson Tide following his final official visit:
“I am shutting it down,” Booker told BOL after the visit. “When you compare and contrast, there is no place that can do it like ‘Bama. Everywhere I went had great things. It was more about the relationships with the current players, the strength coaches, the training staff, the locker room, the resources, on and off the field, and the academic center. Nobody can do it like them.
“I feel really good about it. It’s all family there—from the recruiting girls and guys who work there to the assistant coaches to their assistants, quality control to the head coach. It’s just a really big family there. There is no fall off from the love and experience you get from all of them.
“It’s the best place to get developed. They have the best strength and medical staff. They have the best training room and staff in the country. All of that matters. I feel like they have the best coaches. I want to be around great players who all share a great bond with each other—the guys you want to spend three or four years with. That’s how it feels there.”
Booker’s season started last week before bad weather forced the suspension of the game. The second half will resume on September 2. His team fell to Cartersville on Friday night. Booker starts at left tackle but can also play on the right side or in the interior as a guard. His positional flexibility is one reason Alabama and others were attracted to him.
Booker said he will follow the Tide’s entire offensive front closely this weekend and throughout the year. He discussed the most significant area of improvement during the offseason.
“The mental aspect for sure,” he said. “I’ve been grasping a lot of different concepts and understanding how to execute different things. You don’t always have to be the strongest man on the field. You can use your finesse to run the plays how the coach wants you to. It’s not always going to look the same. I’ve been doing a phenomenal job on that so far.”
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Category: General Sports
