Tech’s Booker on the NFL Draft: It’s nerve wracking

By Nate Warters

Published: April 25, 2008

Contrary to what you may have seen or heard in the last three months, this weekend’s NFL Draft impacts more than the dozen or so players slotted to go early in the first round.
Though they’ve been given a lion’s share of the pre-draft attention, first-round talents like Jake Long, Darren McFadden, Chris Long and Matt Ryan make up a very small fraction of draft-eligible players. There are hundreds more, like Amherst County native Barry Booker, who will be waiting to hear their names called today and Sunday.
“You may know where the top guys are going, but after that, it’s all up in the air,” said Booker, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive tackle.
Booker isn’t sure when he’ll get picked, if at all. Some publications, like The Sporting News, are projecting him to go in the fourth round. Some have him slotted as a later-round pick.
He’ll anxiously wait from the comfort of his family home in Madison Heights for ESPN to flash his name on the television screen.
“It’s kind of nerve wracking, because you never know where you could end up,” Booker said. “I could be across the country in a week. You never know. I’m just waiting to find out where I’m going to be and where I’m going to have a chance to play football.”
Booker was one of 11 Virginia Tech players invited to February’s NFL Draft Combine. Judging from that number, the Hokies could exceed their record total of nine draft picks from 2005.
Cornerback Brandon Flowers is a projected first-round pick, and linebacker Xavier Adibi, wide receiver Eddie Royal, offensive tackle Duane Brown and defensive end Chris Ellis are among the players who could hear their names called today.
“I knew when I first got there, the guys I came in with were great players and they had great talent,” Booker said. “I’m just glad to see that everybody succeeded and made it through and we all have a chance to play at the next level.”
Booker will likely have to wait until Sunday to find out his fate. He could become the third Amherst County High School graduate to enter the NFL ranks in the last six years, joining fellow Virginia Tech defensive tackles David Pugh and Tim Sandidge.
The Indianapolis Colts drafted Pugh in the sixth round in 2002, and Sandidge signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Rams in 2006. Neither Pugh nor Sandidge is currently in the NFL. Sandidge is playing for the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes.
The NFL was the furthest thing from Booker’s mind three years ago. He barely played his first two years at Tech. He redshirted in 2003 and played in only one game in 2004.
He finally cracked the tackle rotation in 2005 and earned a starting job in 2006. He started the final 27 games of his career and missed being named first-team all-ACC last season by one vote.
He finished his career with 113 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t (think about the NFL three years ago),” Booker said.
“It all happened kind of fast for me. I didn’t become a starter until my junior year, and it just worked out for me. I worked hard and made some plays and the scouts started noticing me.”