Interview: 30-Offer 4-Star 2022 IMG Academy OL Tyler Booker Talks Football and Recruiting
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The frights for Florida high school football players during the 2020 season do not cease on October 31, but extend as long as IMG Academy keeps it going. The Ascenders are 7-0 ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps taking the field with a no-prisoners mentality. One of the many highly recruited talents shaking the opposition to the core is Class of 2022 offensive lineman Tyler Booker.
The path forward for Booker may be on the offensive line, but Booker is anything but a one-tool player. Coming up through the ranks with New Jersey’s Bergen Catholic, Booker was locked in at becoming a top defensive lineman. As fate often intervenes showing the path forward, injuries forced him to play in the trenches on the other side during the 2019 season leading to what is now a 4-star 30-offer high school career to date. In addition to being a very skilled defensive lineman, imagine the fear in our soul as a linebacker seeing this 6-5, 320-pound, frame line up at running back and/or fullback. Because Booker is so athletic, the IMG coaches can use the Under Armour All-American Game commit in a multitude of ways aiding in the unblemished season.
In an RNG first-look, Booker stopped by the Lab for an in-depth conversation covering ground on the 2020 season and potential recruiting visits.
Interview
Tyler, the Ascenders are the No. 1 ranked team in the nation looking unstoppable. With this kind of special season going, what is it like in the locker room and on the field for you and the guys?
The only word I can use to explain it is electricity. We have great team chemistry and we have gelled together since Day 1. Electric is the only way to describe. We are excited to get on the field to work every day from the coaches to the players.
Watching film on you, you bring a certain nastiness college coaches love seeing in offensive linemen. How do you get yourself in that mindset to dominate an end or tackle for four quarters?
I get myself there by getting into my zone. I block everything out and envision what I am doing and what I will be doing in the game. We have a mental training class at IMG. In the class, we envision what we will do before we do it. In an exercise in the class, I did it my way and I did it how they taught it. When I saw myself doing an activity ahead of time I did way better. I saw that translating onto the field. Now I can do it even better on the field because I have already essentially done it.
Are you guys tracking pancakes and/or knockdowns, because I am guessing you have a lot?
(Laughs) No, we are not tracking those. Guessing, I get at least three a game.
I think you are being humble. I’ve watched your game film. My guess is about three a series. Next question. Over the offseason, what did you work on with your technique before the 2020 season began?
My focus was on defense really. I had my heart set on playing on the defensive line. Prior to my sophomore season, I was a defensive lineman. Before that season began we had injuries on the offensive line; I had to go over. I was wanting to play defense so badly but I did not realize how well I did on the offensive line. It took me two weeks at IMG to decide offense is better used for my skills going forward. But that offseason work as a defensive lineman has become more of an asset.
Interesting. Just to clarify, you did very little work as an offensive lineman this offseason focusing on defense?
Yeah, I didn’t work much on offense at all. I worked straight defense. But as I mentioned, that benefited me. It helped increase my athleticism, skills, and the mental part of the game. During the offseason I was studying what defensive linemen like to do and how they do it. That put me leaps and bounds ahead as an offensive lineman. Training during the offseason as a defensive lineman helped me a lot as an offensive lineman.
Have you had a chance to max out in the weight room recently?
I have not maxed out since I have been at IMG and didn’t get to before that because of the quarantine. Last time I maxed out I got 320 on bench, 290 on my clean, and my squat was 450.
Impressive. With the seven games played under your belt, where are you seeing the biggest improvements in your skills this season?
My technique overall. Last year I was just switching over a few weeks before the season started. I did not hone in as an offensive lineman then. As the weeks go on, I am seeing what I need to fix with my technique. I was a defensive lineman, that D-lineman mentality makes me attractive to college coaches. I am nasty, and college coaches like seeing that.
Yes, you are. The coaches at IMG love your overall athleticism, they are asking more of you than being a starting right tackle. Where else have you lined up on the field this season?
(Laughs) They’ve lined me up at running back, fullback, and some at defensive tackle as well.
Which game this season has been your personal best?
Northwestern (Miami). That was our last game.
Why did you pick that one?
That’s when I had the best mix of my technique and aggressiveness. Some games I have been too much technique but then I am not as physical as I wanted. In that game I put it all together, the physicality and technique.
Turning to recruiting. How many offers do you have?
Thirty.
Wow. Impressive.
Thank you.
Which programs were the last couple to drop offers?
Ohio State and Jackson State. Oregon and Alabama offered over the summer.
Booker’s Offer Sheet: Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, Boston College, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Jackson State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Rutgers, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Virginia Tech
Being highly recruited as you are, how do you handle the demands for your time with coaches?
I am handling it, I enjoy it. I’m not looking to make any final decisions anytime soon. Right now, I am looking at the relationships. When the season ends then I will start looking deeper at recruiting and the ones I am seriously considering.
When visits pick back up in 2021, which schools would you like to go see?
I’d like to see LSU for sure, Bama for sure, and Penn State. They (PSU) were the first school I was going to visit, but COVID came around.
Tyler, it was great getting time in with you today. Wishing you and the team success finishing out the season.
Thank you.
Photo credit: Booker family; Tyler Booker