Orange will replace red, and his home field will be a mile high.
The running back Utah fans came to know as "Bookmode" will make some changes as he starts his NFL career, but he's not going far.
Running back Devontae Booker was the only former Ute picked in the 2016 NFL draft, selected by the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos with the 136th overall pick.
Booker waited longer than he would've liked, still waiting after six running backs had already been selected. But Denver snatched him up before the end of the fourth round, an announcement made by former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, skiing up to cameras with the pick in hand.
The Broncos later released video footage of Denver coach Gary Kubiak and general manager John Elway calling Booker to congratulate him.
"Can't wait to get you here, man," Kubiak said. "We're looking forward to making you part of our organization, and I really enjoyed my time with you when you came through here."
The Sacramento, Calif., native put himself in the conversation for one of the most talented backs to ever play for the Utes, rushing for 2,773 yards, the third-best mark in program history, in only two seasons. The 23-year-old set Utah's career mark in rushing yards per game (120.6 ypg) with 21 touchdowns in 23 games.
He was known as Utah's workhorse back, grinding down opponents with a punishing physical style and lots of carries. He also did plenty of work in the receiving game with 80 catches for 624 yards in his career. He had 14 games of 100 yards or more, with his career-high 229 yards coming in a double-overtime win at Oregon State in which he had the winning touchdown.
Kubiak may be the ideal pairing for Booker: The Denver coach who just earned his first NFL title is well known for producing 1,000-yard running backs — including former Utah rusher Mike Anderson, who was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2000 when Kubiak was the offensive coordinator for the Broncos. Kubiak also presided over productive seasons from Clinton Portis, Terrell Davis and Arian Foster.
Booker often met comparisons to Foster in NFL scouting reports for his quick-cutting ability, and he paid a visit to Denver prior to the draft. Elway tweeted after the pick that Booker was "one of the highest RBs on our board. Physical, versatile & has great ball skills."
Booker is the first Utah running back picked in the draft since Quinton Ganther in 2006. He's the fourth Ute to be drafted by the Broncos, following John Huddleston (1976), Anderson (2000) and lineman Zane Beadles (2010).
Booker joins a running back corps of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman. Former Utah lineman Sam Brenner is also on the Broncos' roster.
Twice named to all-Pac-12 teams, Booker made the first team in 2014 when he ran for 1,512 yards and 10 touchdowns to fall just short of Utah's single-season rushing record.
His Utah career came to an abrupt end last season when he tore his meniscus 10 games into the year. The injury required two surgeries that left him unable to participate in most NFL Combine and Utah Pro Day activities. He held his own Pro Day earlier this month at his hometown high school when he was able to do field drills, but he did not run the 40-yard dash.
Projected by several outlets to be selected on the second day in rounds 2 or 3, Booker waited until Saturday to be drafted, and several analysts on NFL Network graded him as one of the top prospects remaining until he was picked.
Booker came to Utah on a circuitous route, but never failed to put up eye-popping stats wherever he went.
He was a star at Grant High in California, running for 2,884 yards and 45 touchdowns as a senior. He signed with Washington State out of high school, but academic issues prevented him from going to Pullman.
He ended up attending American River College, where he posted more gaudy numbers (1,472 yards, 15 touchdowns in 2012). He sat out the 2013 season for academic reasons.
cradit by"http://www.sltrib.com/home/3839377-155/nfl-denver-broncos-draft-utahs-devontae:
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