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Wednesday, January 10 Booty Makes it Official By Hunter Michaels Tiger Rage News With LSU coach Nick Saban and members of the local media in attendance, QB Josh Booty made it official. Booty will forgo his senior season and make himself eligible for the NFL draft. This announcement ended several weeks of speculation that the former High School Parade All American at Evangel Christian would opt to leave early for the pros. “I have been blessed to be a student at this great university, blessed to be a member of the LSU football team, and I have been blessed to have met wonderful students," Booty stated. "I've also been blessed with happy moments and great memories that I will cherish forever, like throwing to my little brother Abram in Tiger Stadium, hearing the monstrous roar from our fans, learning from our great coaches and learning from my teammates as well." His decision brings to an end to the nearly 8 year old saga that began with his recruitment to LSU. The highly touted QB was the #1 rated player at his position in 1994. Called the greatest high school quarterback ever by San Francisco 49er G.M. Bill Walsh, Booty was even higher rated than another LA product that year, Peyton Manning. His enrollment at LSU would be detoured however when the MLB Florida Marlins came calling. A 1.6 million dollar signing bonus and a promise to play in the major leagues was what it would take for Booty to renege on his contract with LSU. Seeing little playing time Booty did manage to gain enough face time to earn him a World Series ring in 1997 when the Florida Marlins took the title
In 1998, after years of pleading and even a brief enrollment at LSU, Josh Booty and the Marlins came to terms, Booty was freed from his contract. When he finally made it to LSU, the hype was far bigger than the man. The Paul Bunyon-like quarterback was anything less than stellar in his first season, leading the college ranks in interceptions, with 19. Following the firing of then LSU coach Gerry Dinardo, Josh got a new lease on life and rebounded admirably. He battled Rohan Davey and Craig Nall throughout spring training for the job. Josh would win the job but would later relinquish it after an ad-lib play that resulted in a shocking loss to a heavy under dog UAB squad. Josh would gain redemption however with a stretch of five games that would eventually garner him the honor of All-SEC Quarterback. During a pivotal five game stretch that would lead LSU to the Peach Bowl, Josh Booty was phenomenal. Despite faltering in the final game of the season Booty announced that he would in fact return to LSU. However, a poor showing by the offense in the first half of the Peach Bowl, followed by some heroics by backup Rohan Davey that resulted in a 25 point turnaround, Booty was forced to rethink his decision. Despite completing 145 of 290 passes for 2,121 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions Booty was sure to face a fierce quarterback battle going into Spring Training. With a team divided and with LSU in great hands Josh Booty thought it was time to go.
Booty’s immediate plans are to move to Newport Beach, Calif., where he will work with a team assembled by his agent Leigh Steinberg to prepare him for the coming NFL Combine. A good showing here could greatly improve his draft standing. As of now he is projected as early as the 3rd round but reality would put him more in the 5th to 6th rounds.
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