Relationships key as Booker-Brown picks the Roadrunners over P5 offers
Yesterday, I chatted with the most recent addition to the Roadrunners 2017 recruiting class, Joshua Booker-Brown. The 6-foot-3.5, 227-pound outside linebacker will come in as one of the more highly-touted recruits in this 2017 UTSA class.
Booker-Brown held scholarship offers from TCU, Iowa State, Arizona, Boise State and Colorado State, among others. The daunting linebacker waited until now to choose to sign with UTSA, rather than on national signing day “because [he] wanted to keep [his] options open, and was waiting for more schools to come.” Additionally, the Houston Westfield product noted he “had some more visits that [he] wanted to take with [his] family.”
As for what made Booker-Brown commit to UTSA, it was the relationship he formed with the coaching staff: “Coach Davis was the first person to talk to me, then Coach Rollins. I spoke to the whole staff on that same day, and we had a really good conversation. I loved all the coaches. The coaches down there-- they were all honest with me since I first talked to them. I liked the connection we all had with one another; I was comfortable with all the coaches and they were comfortable with me. They were just being themselves.” The praise didn’t stop there, Booker-Brown proceeded to rave about the man in charge of the program, saying, “Now Coach Wilson… that's the best head coach I've had a conversation with throughout my entire recruiting process. He's a great coach and he's making a big impact on this program. It was a hard was a choice between Arizona, Boise State and UTSA, but there was just something about UTSA I felt I had to be a part of.” Additionally, the Houston Westfield product noted that “the coaching staff checked in on [him] every weekend like [he] was their own child.” Booker-Brown ultimately attributed his commitment to a 3-4 hour talk he and his family had with Coach Wilson, calling it “the best talk ever.”
Booker-Brown considers his versatility and physicality two traits that set him apart from others, saying, “I can play d-line, linebacker, safety, receiver and tight end. I can do it all; I’m an athlete, there's no question about that. And I'm a physical player. Without being physical, you might as well play golf or something else that's a non-contact sport. At least that's how I see it.” As for why he plays the game the way he does, and what he’ll bring this UTSA program, Booker-Brown said, “I was always told, since I was four years old, that this game is for grown men. I took it personal as a kid... I can bring a whole lot to the UTSA program because I take football serious, like it’s a business. I am always putting in extra work and extra film time because I want to be great. I want this team to be great. I can't slack on anything I do. I have to stay on my P's & Q's.” The linebacker concluded the interview by guaranteeing “[UTSA] is going to win a bowl game this year.” Booker-Brown certainly isn’t short on confidence, and though he may be a late addition to the 2017 class, he is sure to make an instant impact.