Position: Running Back
School: Florida State
Status: Senior
Height: 5-10
Weight: 195
40-Yard Dash: 4.45 (EST)
Positives:
Lorenzo Booker has all the talent in the world. Coming out of high school, he was the highest rated running back in the country. He has 4.4 speed, although he seems to move faster, more like a track star playing football.
He had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2004, logging nearly 175 carries and almost 900 yards. A steady performer since, Booker can do it all. Averaging nearly 10 yards per reception out of the backfield, he looks to be a perfect fit as a third-down back, with his versatility and speed.
He protects the ball well, with a stretch of 302 carries without a fumble while at Florida State. His pro game could most clearly resemble that of Kevin Faulk, Patriots Running Back.
Negatives:
After a prolific campaign in 2004, Booker has settled into a comfort zone as an upperclassman. Averaging only 43 yards per game in his last two seasons, Booker’s numbers have dropped across the board in carriers, yards and touchdowns.
Finding the end zone has not been easy for Lorenzo, with only 11 career rushing touchdowns in four full seasons. Booker’s thin frame and shifty running style do not suite a power or a goal-line running game, and Florida State has seen fit to pull him out of touchdown situations. He will need to work on his blitz recognition and pass blocking if he wants to stick in the league.
Overview:
From the very start, Booker was labeled with the dirty word “potential.” It is very apparent that he possesses all the skills to play the running back position extremely well, but can he put it together on a consistent basis year after year to warrant a job in the NFL? This question is going to cause his stock to fall somewhere into the obscurity of Day two.
What a team will get in Lorenzo Booker is a speedy back capable of making a big play at any moment, either with his feet or his hands, but possibly an inconsistent player from week to week and year to year. As the draft wears on, his talent will be worth the risk of a late-round selection.
Projection:
Fifth Round