Michael Booker Season 1995

Honors & Awards

• Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons (1997 - 1st Round, Pick #11)
• Member of Two Nebraska National Championship Teams (1994, 1995)
• Second-Team All-Big 12 (AP, Coaches, 1996)
• Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP (1996)
• Nebraska Defensive Player-of-the-Game vs. Arizona State (1995)

Career

Michael Booker was the most picked on, most watched and the most valuable player on defense in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl against Florida. His four-tackle, three-breakup, one interception for a touchdown performance caught everyone's attention, including NFL scouts. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft. Booker would go on to play for the Falcons for five seasons (1997-2001) and started in Super Bowl XXXIII. Throughout his five year NFL career, Booker recorded 100 tackles and eight interceptions.

1996 (Senior)

During his senior year, Booker started all 12 games as he took over the starting role at left corner. He finished 14th on the team in tackles with 25 (eight solo) and was second on the team with eight pass breakups (only trailing Ralph Brown's 12). Booker also had one interception against Kansas State. In the 1996 Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech he had two solo tackles. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors by both the AP and Coaches for his efforts throughout the year.

1995 (Junior)

A first-year started, Booker started all but the first two games in 1995 as NU's left cornerback. Opposite of All-Big Eight Tyrone Williams, Booker saw plenty of action and finished 10th on the team in tackles with 33 (20 solo). He tied for the team lead in interceptions with Terrell Farley with three and had returns of six yards against Arizona State, 22 yards against Kansas State and 22 against Oklahoma. He also tied for the team lead for most pass breakups with six and had a career-best two against Kansas State. His first interception was in his first start against Arizona State. Booker had a career-best six tackles against Michigan State (five solo) and after his Arizona State performance (two tackles, one breakup, interception) was Nebraska's nominee for Big Eight Defensive Player-of-the-Week. In the 1996 Fiesta Bowl against Florida, Booker was named the game's MVP on defense as he tallied four tackles (three solo), had a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown, which gave Nebraska a 32-10 lead with 2:40 remaining in the second quarter, and tied the NCAA bowl record with three pass breakups, one of which was in the end zone.

1994 (Sophomore)

A first-year sophomore, Booker was slated to redshirt and did not play in the first five games, but was called to action when injuries, including the loss of starting free safety Mike Minter, depleted the secondary. Booker played in the last seven games, as backup at right corner to Tyrone Williams and Leslie Dennis, and finished the season with four tackles, two solo. In the 1995 FedEx Orange Bowl vs. Miami, Booker played but did not record any tackles.

1993 (Freshman)

Booker was enrolled in school but sat out the 1993 season.

Before Nebraska (El Camino High School)

Prior to coming to Nebraska, Booker was a two-year standout in the secondary at El Camino High School and also played for the basketball team, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation much of the 1992 season. At cornerback, Booker was a two-year starter and letterman for Head Coach Herb Meyer and recorded 77 tackles in 1992, five tackles for loss, three interceptions, forced two fumbles and blocked one punt. In limited time as a tailback, Booker rushed 19 times for 113 yards, two TDs and caught one pass for a 12-yard touchdown. Twice he earned all-league honors, was second-team all-city as a junior and first-team all-city as a senior. Booker earned second-team All-CIF and second-team All-California honors in 1992. He was named to the Long Beach Pre-Telegram Best in the West list and was co-defensive player-of-the-year in the Southern California area. El Camino finished 12-2 in 1992 and ranked seventh in the state. In Booker's final three years, El Camino played in the sectional finals each year and was No. 1 in the state in 1991. Also a three-year basketball letterman, Booker was a starting forward for El Camino which was No. 1 in the county most of the year.

Personal

Michael is the son of Michael and Fostoria Booker and was born April 27, 1975. He was a participant in the 1996 "School is Cool" Jam, a volunteer at the Peoples City Mission and assisted with Ventures in Partnership Speakers Bureau.

Booker's Career Statistics

.	.	Tackles			.	.	Fum.	.	.	.	QB	Int.
Year	G/S	UT	AT	TT	TFL	Sacks	C-R	BK	PBU	PI	Hry.	Csd.
1994	7/0	2	2	4	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0
1995	11/9	20	13	33	1-3	0-0	0-0	0	6	3	0	0
1996	12/12	8	17	25	2-3	0-0	0-0	0	8	1	0	0
Totals	30/21	30	32	62	3-6	0-0	0-0	0	14	4	0	0

Interceptions
Year	No.	Yds.	Avg.	LP	TDs
1994	0	0	0.0		0
1995	3	50	16.7	22 vs. KSU, OU	0
1996	1	8	8.0	8 vs. KSU	0
Total	4	58	14.5	22 vs. KSU, OU	0

1995 Orange Bowl vs. Miami: Tackles, None
1996 Fiesta Bowl vs. Florida: Tackles 3 UT, 1 AT, 4 TT; Interceptions 1-42, TD; PBU 3;
voted the game's Most Valuable Player on Defense
1996 Orange Bowl vs. Virginia Tech: Tackles 2 UT, 0 AT, 2 TT