Booker is healthy, earning praise from coaches

David Beaty said one of players who stood out in Monday’s practice was wide receiver Jeremiah Booker. Those are welcoming words coming from Beaty about a talented Booker who has battled injuries since he arrived at Kansas.

As a true freshman Booker missed the first four games after getting injured in fall camp. He returned and started six games that season and caught 23 passes for 228 yards.

Last year as a sophomore he suffered another injury in fall camp missed the first three games.

“Injuries held him back, it is very simple,” Beaty said. “Book works his tail off and he hasn’t changed anything in that regard. Everything for Jeremiah is staying healthy. He had all kind of issues with high ankle sprains, ankle sprains, knee problems and just when he would get well we would fall on him. He has stayed healthy and that’s what we need him to do. He’s a healthy guy and he looks a lot different. He looks a lot faster and he can jump.”

If anybody knows about Booker it would be Beaty. Booker signed with the Jayhawks out of College Station High School, right in the heart of Texas A&M country and also happened to be how Beaty knew of Booker.

Time has gone fast for Booker entering his junior year. He has gone to extremes to take care of his body and listened to any advice he has received from the training staff.

“I’m healthy and I give a lot of the credit to Coach Woodfin,” Booker said of KUs strength and conditioning coordinator. “He has helped me understand how to take care of my body. Things like eating right, stretching, foam roller, ice baths and all of the things that can keep me healthy.”

Booker has earned solid reviews from the coaches during fall camp. The best new of all is staying healthy allowing him to show what he can do. He is hoping this fall camp has a better outcome than the last two.

“I can finally focus on football and knowing my assignments to do what I can for the team,” he said. “I’m not worrying about the little nicks here and there. I’ve been taking care of my body and whatever the coaches ask me to do.”

There are several receivers working to make the top eight spots. According to offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, the top eight are going to see the field the most. Booker is glad to be in the competition at one of the team’s deepest positions. He also likes the overall quality of the wide receivers and how close they have become on and off field.

“All of us have put in a lot of work in the off-season,” Booker said. “I’m just taking it one day at a time and enjoying the whole process. This group is competitive and that is great. We are all eager to go out and make plays. We have a good bond because we have been there together for a while. Off the field we’re close and that correlates with what we can do on the field.”