Lorenzo Booker

Booker was born in Oxnard, California.{{Cite web |title=See the Oxnard athletes featured on NFL Network |url=https://www.vcstar.com/picture-gallery/sports/2021/02/10/see-oxnard-hueneme-athletes-starred-nfl-ad/4463703001/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Nuanez |first=Colter |date=2020-01-08 |title=Oxnard duo chasing dreams together at Montana – Skyline Sports |url=https://skylinesportsmt.com/oxnard-duo-chasing-dreams-together-at-montana/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |language=en-US}} He attended St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, California, where he was a letterman in football and track. In football, he played as a running back. As a senior, Booker ran for 2878 yards and 50 touchdowns, and also had 16 receptions for 300 yards along with three more touchdowns. He was widely regarded as the nation's top running back prospect and was named a Parade All-American and to the PrepStar Dream Team. He also earned USA Today All-USA first-team honors and was ranked by Rivals.com as the number 3 overall prospect in the country and a five star recruit. In his junior year, Booker had an equally-impressive 3103 yards and 49 touchdowns, and for his three-year career had 8502 rushing yards and 137 touchdowns, both state records. During this time, he led his team a 42–0 record.

In track & field, Booker competed as a sprinter and jumper. In sprints, he achieved PR of 10.8 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 22.2 seconds in the 200-meter dash. In the jumping events, he cleared more than 22 feet (6.80m) in the long jump.

After an initial verbal commitment to Notre Dame, Booker chose Florida State over Notre Dame{{Cite web |title=Ex-NFL RB Lorenzo Booker -- I Chose FSU over Notre Dame ... Because the Girls Are Wayyyy Hotter |url=http://www.tmz.com/2014/01/07/lorenzo-booker-florida-state-notre-dame-hot-girls-college-running-back/ |url-status=live |accessdate=January 22, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002758/http://www.tmz.com/2014/01/07/lorenzo-booker-florida-state-notre-dame-hot-girls-college-running-back/ |archivedate=March 4, 2016}} and USC in a nationally televised press conference on ESPN. Following his high school career, Booker played in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Bowl alongside fellow Florida State Seminoles Kamerion Wimbley and Buster Davis. Following his senior season, he was awarded the Gatorade High School Heisman, honoring the top high school athlete in the nation.

Image:Lorenzo Booker-FSU 2006.jpg

Booker redshirted his first year at Florida State. In his freshman year with the Seminoles in 2003, Booker was fourth on the team in carries with 62, third in rushing yards with 334, and third in rushing touchdowns with three, and also recorded 19 receptions for 86 yards. In his sophomore year in 2004, Booker led the team in carries with 173, and was second in both rushing yards (887) and touchdowns (four), and also had 24 catches for 160 yards. Booker led the Seminoles in rushing yards, carries, and touchdowns in his junior year in 2005, with 119 carries for 552 yards (4.8 average) and four touchdowns. He also recorded 38 receptions for 329 yards and two touchdowns. While in college, Booker earned the nickname L-Boogie.

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

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| weight = 193

| dash = 4.46

| ten split = 1.46

| twenty split = 2.58

| shuttle = 3.98

| cone drill =

| vertical = 35+1/2

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 1

| bench = 26

| wonderlic = 17

| arm span = 30+1/2

| hand span = 9

| note = Measurables were taken at the NFL Scouting Combine,{{Cite web |title=Lorenzo Booker |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=8256&draftyear=2007&genpos=rb |website=NFL Draft Scout |accessdate=July 14, 2013}} except for those taken at Pro Day: arm and hand spans, 20-yard shuttle, and Wonderlic.{{Cite web |title=Lorenzo Booker |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/booker_lorenzo |publisher=NFL |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514221124/http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/booker_lorenzo |archivedate=May 14, 2007}}

}}

Booker was selected in the third round (71st overall) of the 2007 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He signed a four-year contract with the Dolphins on May 24, 2007.

Booker had his first significant action in the loss to the Jets on December 12, 2007, when he was used primarily as a receiver. He had one carry for six yards and six catches for 63 yards.

File:Lorenzo Booker Eagles.jpg

Booker was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on April 26, 2008, for a fourth round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. He rushed for 53 yards on 20 carries and caught six passes for 11 yards in 2008. He was waived on September 5, 2009, during final cuts.{{Cite news |date=September 6, 2010 |title=Carpenter, Lambert, Colbert, Booker cut |work=Ventura County Star |url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/2009/sep/06/carpenter-lambert-colbert-booker-cut/ |accessdate=November 7, 2010}}

Booker signed with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League on August 17, 2010.{{Cite news |last=Doyle, Paul |date=August 17, 2010 |title=Colonials Set To Begin Training Camp |work=ctnow.com |url=http://www.ctnow.com/sports/hc-hartford-colonials-0817-20100817,0,7707879.story |accessdate=August 21, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} He was named the UFL Offensive Player of the Week for week 7 during the 2010 season after rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite news |date=November 2, 2010 |title=Hartford Colonials RB Lorenzo Booker Earns UFL Offensive Player of the Week Honors |work=United Football League |url=http://www.ufl-football.com/news/hartford-colonials-rb-lorenzo-booker-earns-ufl-offensive-player-week-honors |accessdate=November 7, 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Booker boycotted the Colonials' November 20, 27–14 win over the Las Vegas Locomotives to protest the league's $150,000 transfer fee. The fee was payable to a UFL team if one of its players is signed by an NFL team. Booker and other players{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2010 |title=Huyghue downplays UFL boycott threat, players don't | ProFootballTalk |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/20/huyghue-downplays-ufl-boycott-threat-players-dont/ |publisher=Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |accessdate=July 18, 2012}} believed they were led to believe the fee would be waived once the season is over, not until February 1, 2011, since the previous season the fee was waived and 43 UFL players eventually were signed by NFL teams.{{Cite web |title=Nighthawks' skid continues among boycott talk |url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20101119/SPORTS/711199798/276 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908002750/http://www.omaha.com/article/20101119/SPORTS/711199798/276 |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |publisher=Omaha.com |accessdate=July 18, 2012}} On November 22, Booker was suspended by the UFL for the boycott.{{Cite web |title=UFL suspends Lorenzo Booker | ProFootballTalk |date=November 23, 2010 |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/22/ufl-suspends-lorenzo-booker/ |publisher=Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |accessdate=July 18, 2012}}

On December 6, 2010, Booker was signed by the Minnesota Vikings after the UFL transfer fee was reduced to $25,000.{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2010 |title=Vikings finally sign Lorenzo Booker | ProFootballTalk |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/06/vikings-finally-sign-lorenzo-booker/ |publisher=Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |accessdate=July 18, 2012}}

In his four games with the Vikings, Booker was used primarily as a kick returner. On 18 returns, he amassed 429 yards for an average of 23.8 yards a return. He also had 5 catches for 32 yards.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BookLo00.htm/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302154024/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BookLo00.htm/|date=March 2, 2010}}

Booker signed with the Chicago Bears on July 17, 2012.{{Cite web |title=Dynamic duo is still going strong |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8889 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718090513/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8889 |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |publisher=Chicagobears.com |accessdate=July 18, 2012}} In the second game of the preseason against the Washington Redskins, Booker returned the second-half opening kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown.{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2012 |title=Washington Redskins vs. Chicago Bears - Box Score |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=320818003 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=August 19, 2012}} The return would've been the longest kick return in Bears history had it occurred in the regular season.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=August 24, 2012 |title=Quigley hopes to make most of rare opportunity |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Quigley-hopes-to-make-most-of-rare-opportunity/b9d292e0-fda1-4594-b41c-3734b4b16cc1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814101546/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Quigley-hopes-to-make-most-of-rare-opportunity/b9d292e0-fda1-4594-b41c-3734b4b16cc1 |archive-date=August 14, 2014 |publisher=Chicago bears |accessdate=December 28, 2012}} Booker competed with Armando Allen for the third running back spot.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |title=Booker, Allen battling for third spot |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Booker-Allen-battling-for-third-spot/ddd6d601-d3bf-454d-9f32-a218109a1f48 |publisher=Chicagobears.com |accessdate=August 28, 2012}} Booker later won the spot, leading to Allen's release on August 31.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |title=Bears reach 53-man roster limit |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-reach-53-man-roster-limit/d1ca7b2d-acca-46d6-b488-46f71f813615 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902213924/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-reach-53-man-roster-limit/d1ca7b2d-acca-46d6-b488-46f71f813615 |archive-date=September 2, 2012 |publisher=Chicagobears.com |accessdate=September 1, 2012}}

Booker was put on Injured Reserve on September 8, 2012.{{Cite news |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=September 8, 2012 |title=Bears add Allen, place Booker on IR |work=ChicagoBears.com |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-add-Allen-place-Booker-on-IR/42a1ed12-929d-4947-8235-7577d405c3d8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911001809/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-add-Allen-place-Booker-on-IR/42a1ed12-929d-4947-8235-7577d405c3d8 |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |accessdate=September 8, 2012}} He was released from the Injured Reserve on September 18, 2012.

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080720084821/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/player124.html Philadelphia Eagles bio]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083036/http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/roster/playerBio.asp?docid=27200 Miami Dolphins bio]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070502225851/http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/booker_lorenzo00.html Florida State Seminoles bio]

{{Rivals Junior of the Year}}

{{Gatorade Football Player of the Year}}

{{Hall Trophy}}

{{Dolphins2007DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Booker, Lorenzo}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football running backs

Category:Florida State Seminoles football players

Category:Miami Dolphins players

Category:Players of American football from Oxnard, California

Category:Philadelphia Eagles players

Category:Hartford Colonials players

Category:Minnesota Vikings players

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen

Category:20th-century American sportsmen

Category:Chicago Bears players