Kevin Booth ol is a raider

[Plunkett16]

Height: 6-4 3/4 | Weight: 316 | 40-Time: 5.41

Official Bio

Strengths:
Has great size and a big frame with long arms...Strong and isn't satisfied just to beat his opponents, he wants to dominate them...Shows excellent quickness and good feet...Equally effective as both a run and pass blocker...Versatile and has experience at right tackle, left tackle and guard...Should work out well due to his combination of size / speed / strength...Still has a lot of upside and potential.

Weaknesses:
Has not played against top talent...May struggle to handle the speed rushers he will see in the pro ranks...Will likely have to make the move from college tackle inside to offensive guard at the next level...Has dealt with some injuries in the past but has managed not to miss much playing time...Still a bit of a project who will need some time to adjust and make the drastic jump in competition.

Notes:
A perenial selection to the All-Ivy team...Has all the physical tools you look for and has been a big fish in a small pond in the Ivies...One of the top sleeper prospects in the draft who could surprise and go much higher than anyone might think.

[Plunkett16]

we just picked him in 6th round

[Angry Pope]

Kevin Boothe

Height: 6-5
Weight: 315
40 Speed: 5.49*
Position: Offensive Tackle
College: Cornell
Final Grade: I 5.5 OG

SUMMARY

Boothe was a very frustrating player to grade because an offensive tackle with his natural athleticism, strength and competitiveness should be a dominant blocker at Cornell, but his technique is so bad that he consistently was beaten and his man made/disrupted a lot of plays. He definitely looks the part on the "Hoof" with his thick and solid physique and has the quick feet and playing speed to effectively block out in space. When he blocks aggressively, he can get movement on in-line run blocks and can hold ground vs. bull rushers. He is going to need to learn much better footwork because he cannot slide out to cut off speed/edge rushers consistently and struggles to re-direct/change direction to handle the quick inside pass-rush move. Overall, Boothe is a very good developmental prospect who has all the physical tools to eventually become a good starting offensive tackle (or guard depending on where his team wants to play him), but he is going to need to greatly improve his footwork, blocking technique and must block more aggressively on every snap. He is ideal to spend a season or two on the practice squad to try and develop his ability, but the reality is that there's doubt he will ever develop into anything more than a backup offensive lineman who struggles to be anything more than the ninth or 10th lineman on a team.



STRONG POINTS

Boothe is a very well built offensive linemen with the long arms you look for in a tackle. When he is aggressive with in hands in pass protection he can punch defensive ends hard enough to knock them backward and usually eliminates them from play. He has quick feet for a 300-plus pound offensive lineman and has shown ability to recover in pass protection. He can chip the defensive line and gets through to the second level quickly to block linebackers well in space. Despite his 40 time, he shows the play speed to pull and lead block on outside runs. He has good natural strength and when he blocks aggressively he can collapse the defensive line with down/side block and can hold ground vs. bull rush when he blocks with leverage and aggressiveness.



WEAKNESSES

Boothe is an extremely raw blocker whose footwork and hand use is really bad. He does not slide and shuffle out to corner to cut off speed rusher -- he tends to just stand up, turns and runs to point of contact. He has a bad stance, which adds to his limitations blocking speed/edge rushers. As he is right now, he will get eaten alive by NFL edge rushers. He does not bend his knees to run block with leverage and is basically just a positional, push blocker who struggles to get movement and eliminate his man consistently on straight ahead run blocks. He does not bend his knees when he blocks out in space and it limits his ability to consistently maintain blocks after making initial contact.

[Angry Pope]

Kevin Boothe

Guard - Ranked #5

Cornell


Height: 6-4 3/4
Weight: 316 lbs.
Forty Time: 5.41 - Combine


Background

Kevin Boothe attended Pine Crest High School in Plantation, Florida where he played on both the offensive and defensive lines. He served as team captain as a senior, totaling 40 tackles and 2 forced fumbles on defense. He was named first team all-county and second team all-state for he performance as a senior. Kevin accepted a scholarship to Cornell where he missed his freshman season due to an ankle injury. He earned the teams’ starting right guard spot the following season where he was named second team all-Ivy league. He played right guard again the next season, earning first team all-Ivy league honors. Kevin switched from right guard to right tackle in 2004 and didn’t miss a beat, earning first team all-Ivy league honors once again. He was awarded a 5th year of eligibility due to missing his freshman to injury. He moved to left tackle in 2005 to protect the blindside of a right handed quarterback after having a lefty under center in 2004.

Analysis

Kevin Boothe is a versatile player with a great deal of experience, having started at both guard and tackle over the past four seasons at Cornell. Kevin has great size and the long arms to help keep defenders away from him. He is a good team leader who works hard and has a non-stop motor. He is a powerful run blocker who has the athleticism to get to the second level and take out a linebacker. He displays good footwork in pass protection but he is a better run blocker than a pass protector. Kevin didn’t play against a high level of competition in college and he may have a difficult transition to playing against NFL caliber players. He lacks ideal height for a tackle in the NFL and he will struggle with speed rushers at the next level. He has had a slew of injuries in both high school and college so his durability will come into question, but he was able to avoid missing significant time due to those injuries. Kevin Boothe will most likely have to move inside to guard at the professional level. He has a great deal of upside and could be a late first or early second day pick in the 2006 NFL draft.

[Plunkett16]

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/corn/sports/m-footbl/auto_headshot/29533.jpeg

Overall: Boothe redshirted in 2001 and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle at the end of that season. He returned healthy in 2002, when he started 10 games at right guard. Boothe missed one game due to broken bones in both hands as a sophomore in 2003 but he started the other nine games at right guard  even when he had a cast on both hands. He moved to the right tackle position and started all 10 games as a junior in 2004. He moved to left tackle as a senior in 2005 and was a fulltime starter at that position. Boothe is a late-blooming prospect who showed up on campus in 2001 weighing 368 pounds. Since then, he has lost 50-plus pounds while greatly improving his agility, strength and stamina.


At Cornell: The anchor of the offensive line, Boothe is a two-time first-team All-Ivy League selection and is widely considered the top lineman in the league. A true All-America candidate, Boothe has tremendous size and quickness along with a great understanding of the game, which has put him on the NFL radar screen entering his final season. He was granted a fifth-year of eligibility after missing his freshman season with an injury. Boothe made the transition from right guard to right tackle with ease last season and was the only unanimous first-team selection on the line in 2004. He will once again be a tremendous presence and leader on a young line for the Big Red this season. As a sophomore, he was named to the All-Ivy second team, becoming one of just three Ivy second-year players on offense to be named to the squad. Boothe is a student in the School of Hotel Administration.

At Pine Crest: Boothe played on both the offensive and defensive lines at the Pine Crest School. A team co-captain as a senior, he was a first-team all-county selection as well as a second-team all-state pick. He had 40 tackles and caused two fumbles in 2000.

Personal: Kevin Mark Boothe is the son of Charles and Pat Boothe and has an older brother, Charles, who played football at East Carolina University.

[Angry Pope]

More.......

Kevin Boothe, Cornell (6-4¾, 316; 5.44)

Boothe had a complete workout at the Combine. He ran two 40s in 5.41 and 5.47. He had a 31½-inch vertical jump, an 8-foot-2 broad jump, 5.05 short shuttle, 8.36 three-cone drill and did 23 lifts. Played on the offensive and defensive line in high school. He came to Cornell weighing 370 pounds and was redshirted in 2001. He started the next four years (at guard in 2002 and 2003, at right tackle in 2004, and at left tackle in 2005). He has average athletic ability and is a better run blocker than a pass blocker. He plays hard and tough. Guard is his best position, but could play at right tackle.

[Plunkett16]

sounds like good pi ckup

[Rupert]

Hmmmm. Boothe sounds like a project guy. He doesn't come with a great 40, doesn't have great agility (less than 1/2 second drop on the short shuttle from his 40 time), doesn't have great running endurance (look at that glacial 3-cone), and doesn't have great strength (23 reps?). Still in the 6th, you're not going to find great guys.

He's a depth guy who will have to develop in camp or will get an early meeting with the Turk.

[Angry Pope]

Here are our picks and a video of each one...

Hit it here, please... (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/oak)

[Angry Pope]

Raiders Select Boothe in 6th

April 30, 2006


The Oakland Raiders have selected Cornell offensive lineman Kevin Boothe with their 6th round choice in the 2006 NFL Draft. The 6'4", 320-pounder was a three-time All-Ivy League selection.

CAREER NOTES

Only the fourth Cornell player to earn All-Ivy League honors three times in a career, joining Ed Marinaro (RB, 1969-70-71), Bob Lally (LB, 1971-72-73) and Chad Levitt (RB, 1994-95-96). In 2005, Kevin became the first first-team All-America selection at Cornell since 1998, when John Hansen was picked to the top team.

2005 SEASON

Recipient of the Pop Warner Most Valuable Player Award at the annual Cornell football banquet...Named to All-American first-team by The NFL Draft Report and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), earning second-team honors from The Sports Network and Associated Press...Three-time first-team All-Ivy League pick...Started the first two games at right offensive tackle before shifting to the left side for the final eight games...Served as tri-captain, as the Cornell running game averaged 248.9 yards per game (eighth nationally)...The Big Red offense ran for 26 touchdowns and averaged 4.4 yards per carry...Registered 83 key blocks/knockdowns, with 10 resulting in touchdowns while allowing three quarterback sacks and three pressures...Was chosen to receive the Jaime McManamon Award, which is given to the senior who through diligence and hard work in the strength and conditioning program was able to significantly improve his performance on the field of play.

2004 SEASON

All-American honorable mention by The NFL Draft Report...Earned All-Ivy League first-team honors for the second consecutive year...Shifted to right offensive tackle, starting 10 games...Posted 64 knockdowns, with eight blocks resulting in touchdowns for an offense that averaged 310.9 yards per game, including 217.2 yards passing.

2003 SEASON

All-Ivy League first-team selection...Started nine games at right offensive guard, missing the Georgetown contest after breaking bones in both of his hands...Helped the offense average 318.7 yards per game while the offensive line allowed 29 quarterback sacks.

2002 SEASON

Moved into the starting lineup at right guard, earning All-Ivy League second-team accolades...Part of an offense that averaged 296.9 yards per game and a member of a front wall that allowed 23 quarterback sacks.

[Angry Pope]

12.15.2005....

12/15/05 Boothe was named 2nd team AP All Division IAA for his efforts in 2005.

12/5/05 Kevin will play in the East-West Shrine Game.

At Cornell: The anchor of the offensive line, Boothe is a two-time first-team All-Ivy League selection and is widely considered the top lineman in the league. A true All-America candidate, Boothe has tremendous size and quickness along with a great understanding of the game, which has put him on the NFL radar screen entering his final season. He was granted a fifth-year of eligibility after missing his freshman season with an injury. Boothe made the transition from right guard to right tackle with ease last season and was the only unanimous first-team selection on the line in 2004. He will once again be a tremendous presence and leader on a young line for the Big Red this season. As a sophomore, he was named to the All-Ivy second team, becoming one of just three Ivy second-year players on offense to be named to the squad. Boothe is a student in the School of Hotel Administration.

At Pine Crest: Boothe played on both the offensive and defensive lines at the Pine Crest School. A team co-captain as a senior, he was a first-team all-county selection as well as a second-team all-state pick. He had 40 tackles and caused two fumbles in 2000.

Personal: Kevin Mark Boothe is the son of Charles and Pat Boothe and has an older brother, Charles, who played football at East Carolina University.
Interview with Kevin Boothe from December 5th 2005

Intro: Kevin is a hotel administration major that will graduate this December. Despite frequent hand injuries, no current injuries affect his play. He has missed one game which was during the 2003 season as a result of a broken hand in the first game of the season. Then he broke the other hand about 5 weeks later so he was forced to sit out the Georgetown game. Boothe self-reports his bench max at 415, also says he hasn't done reps of 225 yet, his squat max is 600, his vertical at 29", his 40-yd dash as a 5.25(the recorded 5.39/40 was timed by a scouting service but Boothe says he 'tweaked' his hamstring during that attempt. Boothe is also a very versatile prospect having player his first two seasons at RG then moving to RT to protect a left hander now he is at LT to protect the right handed QB. So he certainly feels comfortable playing either Guard or Tackle.

Out of high school he was 367 pounds and many worry about him being able to control the weight, here is his response along with others:

Kevin: I was like 367, based in part because I came to college with an injured ankle and I was not in a disciplined weight program. I have no concerns about it now because I know how to control all of that. I was 320 by December of my freshman year. So I don’t think it’s a big deal. So I lost the weight in about 4 months. I believe I was naive when I first came to college, but that quickly changed and I have not had weight issues throughout my career at Cornell.

Q: How did you end up at Cornell out of Florida?
Kevin: I have no idea! They showed plenty of interest, and I really enjoyed my visit and felt comfortable.

Describe your off the field personality:

Kevin: I'm laid back. I enjoy being around my friends and relaxing. I go out, but I wouldn't mind chillin at home watching ESPN or a movie.

Q: Can you list three playing strengths?
Kevin: I think I have a good understanding of the game, in terms of what defenses are trying to do. I am physical. Have decent feet.

Q: What weaknesses in your game are you working on to improve?
Kevin: I need to improve on everything. From my strength, to playing lower, explosion, and staying on blocks, every aspect of my game needs to improve a great deal.

Q: Did you participate in any other sports in High School and did you play any other positions on the football field (include awards/stats)?
Kevin: No I only played football.

Q: What schools expressed interest in you or offered you coming out of high school?
Kevin: I took visits to UCONN, Dartmouth, and Columbia. USF and UCF showed mild interest.

Q: If football doesn’t work out, what would you plan on doing?
Kevin: I enjoy the hotel industry, so maybe be a manager at a casino hotel or a resort.

Q: Who is the best player you have played against?
Kevin: Dante Ballestracci from Harvard a couple of years ago was a great player. Anthony Garguilo from Dartmouth has a great motor, and Zak DeOssie from Brown has all the physical tools to be dominant.

Q: What would you like to accomplish in the next five years?
Kevin: I want to be starting and playing my best football for a team that is winning Super Bowls.

Q: Have you been invited to any post-season events (All-Star Game or combines)?
Kevin: Right now, I am in the East-West Shrine Game.

Q: How good do you want to be?
Kevin: This opportunity is once in a lifetime, so I will give it my best shot. I feel that I can succeed at the next level, and it is up to me how far I go. I want to be the best; everyone should want to be the best at what they do.

[Angry Pope]

ESPN'S Mel Kiper Likes Big Red's Kevin Boothe


Senior offensive tackle called I-AA's top NFL prospect



Senior offensive tackle Kevin Boothe was called I-AA's top NFL prospect by ESPN's Mel Kiper.


Sept. 28, 2005


ITHACA, N.Y. -- Senior offensive lineman Kevin Boothe has already drawn plenty of interest from NFL scouts, but now NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper has weighed in on the left tackle on ESPN.com for his weekly Personnel Points on ESPN Insider. Here is what he said:


Offensive Line

Kevin Boothe, Cornell -- It doesn't look like there will be many, if any, blue-chip non-Division I-A players in the 2006 draft. One who has emerged comes from the Ivy League, and Boothe will be the first non-Division I-A player drafted. He's big (6-4, 327 pounds) and versatile, having played left tackle, right tackle and guard. He'll bring a lot of versatility when he comes into the NFL. He's got long arms and he's strong and technically sound, with decent foot work. Boothe really toys with the defensive ends he's playing against. If he does well in the postseason all-star games and at the combine workout, he certainly could be a second- or third-round draft choice. Boothe is the top non-Division I-A prospect in this draft.


Boothe is a three-time All-Ivy selection, including a two-time first-team pick. His tremendous size and quickness, along with a great understanding of the game, has put him on the NFL radar screen entering his final season. He made the transition from right guard to right tackle with ease last season and has since been shifted to left tackle. He was the only unanimous first-team Ancient Eight selection on the offensive line in 2004 and has been named a preseason All-American by the Sports Network and I-AA.org.

[Angry Pope]

INTERVIEW: 10 Questions with Kevin Boothe



By Per Ostman Cornell Daily Sun

Ithaca, NY (U-WIRE) -- In the return of 10 Questions, Sun Senior Writer Per Ostman tackles some dummies with All-Ivy lineman Kevin Boothe.

1. So, are you really 327 pounds? Yeah, that's what I am right now. Actually, I'm probably more like 320. Only 320? Haha, yeah, only 320. Well, you've still got dinner tonight. Yeah, then we'll be back up there to 327. It's funny, really. People look at me and they say, "oh, you're not 320 pounds. You're more like 290 or something." You're definitely more "Miami Shaq" than "L.A. Shaq." Yeah, yeah. Exactly. Okay, so you're 327, but you're an "athletic" 327. Do you think of yourself less as a stand-up-and-push guy and more of a complete "quickness and technique" kind of player? Yes, definitely. I think what people don't know about linemen is that you have to have tremendous feet to play this game. Just being big alone doesn't get the job done. It helps though, doesn't it? Yeah, having size is definitely an advantage. but you've got to be able to move the weight.

2. The death of 49ers tackle Thomas Herrion has thrown the issue of weight in the NFL into the media forefront. The prevailing belief is that his cardiac arrest was in part due to his weight. With tragedies such as this occurring with increasing frequency, the sense is that the NFL may be getting "too big." Do you agree with this? I guess I can see both sides of the argument, you know, and it seems like everyone's getting bigger, but I think that's in general, not just in football. I think that's happening everywhere in society. In the general public, I think everyone's getting bigger. Kind of an evolutionary thing, if that makes sense. But I think it's something to address, not something to ignore. I think the overall issue isn't as big as people are making it out to be. What kinds of things do you do to maintain and manage your weight? We have a great strength coach, Coach Howley, and we're usually with him four times a week during the offseason. A group of us, myself included, actually spent the majority of the summer up here working out with Coach Howley directly. You've been scouted as a pro prospect going forward. Do you feel any pressure to weigh over 300 pounds, to maintain that weight, or to get even bigger than you are now? No, not at all. I've had teams come in to look at me and not one of them said that we need you to get bigger or be a certain weight or anything like that. They just want to see you perform on the field, so I don't really think about my weight, funny as that sounds. But no, no one has ever told me to gain weight and I don't feel any pressure. If anything, they'd probably want you to lose 10 or 15 pounds. Do you worry about the long term effects of weighing over 300 pounds, with regards to the stresses on your joints and your cardiovascular system? I think it's always in the back of your mind. But, I think that's something that I'll address once I'm done playing. You definitely wouldn't be able to just have a normal life weighing this much. So, you definitely want to cut that weight down almost immediately after you're done playing.








3. You're in the Hotel School and you weigh 320 pounds (before dinner). Does this mean that you're a good cook? Man, I'll tell you a little story. First day of cooking lab, I think it was my sophomore year, we were in the kitchen and I almost cut my finger off. Wow. So this was potentially a Ronnie Lott situation? Actually, it wasn't that bad. I mean, it was through the fingernail and it stung a little bit. My parents and all my friends still give me grief about it. Remind me not to eat at your house anytime soon. Nah, nah, it was alright. I think I've actually improved a lot. I can do a few things in the kitchen. What's your favorite dish to make? Oh, man. To make...hmmm. Well, I guess I'm not really making it, but my girlfriend actually freezes up a lot of spaghetti sauce for me that she makes. This is cheating! You'd fail cooking for this. This is cheating, yeah, because all I have to do is boil the spaghetti. But it's really good. I think I'm gonna have some of that for dinner tonight. But something that I make from scratch? I think I can make a pretty good omelet. Omelets? Oh yeah. Do you do like eight eggs? Yeah, yeah. You gotta have a big omelet. I love the big omelet. You need all kinds of stuff in there, your peppers, your mushrooms, your onions, some kind of meat - Yeah, yeah, yeah. Some kind of meat and cheese. You gotta have the cheese. Nice. Very nice.

4. Growing up in Florida, were you more of a Spurrier fan, or a Bowden fan? I did grow up close to the University of Miami, but I think I'll always have a special place in my heart for the Ol'Ballcoach. How successful do you think Steve Spurrier can be in his first year at South Carolina? It'll be tough in the SEC, really tough. But I think he can do it. Maybe not right away, but they'll be right at the top in a couple of years. Who's your favorite college football team right now? You mean besides Cornell? See that's the thing. Do you find it difficult now that you're a college football player to maintain the same allegiances you had when you were a kid? Growing up, I was always watching Florida and the Hurricanes and things like that. But honestly, now that I'm playing and I go to Cornell, it's like I'm impartial with every game I watch other than ours. You wouldn't think I'd be like that, but I watch games now just for the football, just for the game, because I enjoy it.

5. Let's move on to the NFL then. Are you a Dolphins fan? Believe it or not, I grew up 15 minutes from Dolphins Stadium, and I never liked them. Why not? Marino not your guy? I think it was something like the fact that they were right there, you know? And right when I started getting into football, when I was about five or six, believe it or not I was a Niners fan. I was a front-running kid growing up. Montana was better anyway. Yeah, right when I started watching football, you know? Rice and Montana. All those championships. Who's beating the Patriots this year? Aww man. My girlfriend's from Boston, so that's all I've heard since October - Patriots and Red Sox, Patriots and Red Sox. Good for her. But honestly, I won't believe they're out of it until I see zeros on the clock and they're completely eliminated. That's how good they've gotten. I fully expect the Patriots to win. Even with losing both coordinators and all the personnel turnover? No question. I fully expect them to be there at the end. If not, I guess the Colts, maybe. Yeah, but Peyton Manning plays all important games with his hands affixed firmly around his neck. Even in college man, he could never beat Florida. And then, after he leaves, they win the National Championship.

cont'd....

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

6. The NFL is the only major sport without guaranteed contracts. Teams have the ability to rip up contracts and cut players almost indiscriminately. Now, I'm not saying that you should start doing crunches in your driveway, but don't you agree with Terrell Owens, even just a little bit? I think he's got the right argument, but he's going about it the wrong way. I agree, to an extent, with what he's saying, but I don't think that's the best way to handle the situation. You mean you don't do pushups in your driveway? That's pretty cool, though. I liked that. To me, that was amusing. I come home and turn on the TV, and I'm seeing helicopters. I'm like, "what is going on? Is this OJ, part II?" And all of a sudden I see Terrell Owens doing curls in his driveway.

7. You play on turf in Schoellkopf. Wouldn't you rather play on grass? Definitely. But at certain times with the Ithaca climate, grass might not be the best thing. On a perfect day, I'd definitely take grass. We don't have any perfect days in Ithaca. My point exactly. Like today. Put me on the turf. Games though, games are fun in the mud. But not practice.

8. What's the hottest women's team at Cornell? Man, I've got a girlfriend... You CAN'T do that. Okay? People have tried to pull that in the past, and I won't allow it. But I have a girlfriend, man! You're going to get me in trouble! I know. That's what I'm here for. Never talk to the media. But I don't pay attention. I don't know the players, man ... You've got to put in there how long it's taking me to answer. Don't worry, I will. This is really hard. I don't want people to get mad at me. It's not like I'm asking you what the ugliest team is. I'm asking what the hottest team is, so you're not going to insult anyone if you don't mention them. In theory. Man, this is tough. Hey, Ryan, maybe you can answer this - what's the hottest Cornell women's team? What sport? Ryan Rourke, men's basketball: Umm... Kevin Boothe: Can I ask him? Can I bring in the bullpen? Sure. RR: I'll go with...hmm...soccer and volleyball? KB: Don't look at me, man. RR: Okay, soccer. I'm going with soccer. Soccer, huh? Good choice. RR: Yeah, because I don't see the equestrian team at all, so I don't know what they look like. I know where you're going with this, and I like it. RR: Oh, wait a minute. I'm gonna have to take back what I said. I'm taking back soccer. Wait, you're taking soccer off the board? RR: Yeah, I'm going to go with field hockey. KB: [Laughing hysterically] Did I miss something? I've been away for a year. Is there a specific player that I need to be focusing on here? RR: I mean, every team's got their cuties, but overall it's field hockey. I'm taking the mean average here. Are you in AEM? RR: Yeah. I've got to interview a field hockey player next week.

9. If you could have dinner with any three people, alive or dead, who would be there and why? This is deep, man. We try to ask the hard-hitting questions here at the Daily Sun. Okay, it would be Jesus. And Martin Luther King, Jr. The third would have to be my brother, just so I wouldn't be so nervous. What are you serving? Whatever they want. What do you serve Jesus? Whatever he wants.

10. If you make it to the NFL, you're going to be better than Jay Fiedler, right? Man, they gave that guy SO much hell down in South Florida. I felt bad for him. I mean, he's had a long career. If I can be better than Jay Fiedler, I'll be alright.

[Angry Pope]

2006 Draft Preview: OG Kevin Boothe

By: Scott Eklund
Seahawks.NET
Date: Apr 12, 2006

Seahawks.NET's Scott Eklund finishes his look at the guards available in this year's NFL Draft by taking a look at a player from an Ivy League school -- not really the hotbed of NFL talent. Cornell's Kevin Boothe is a player moving up draft boards as the draft steadily approaches and it wouldn't surprise anyone to see him taken late on day one of the Draft.

5. Kevin Boothe, OG Cornell 6-4, 315 (5.4)

NFL Comparison – Vince Manuwai, Jacksonville Jaguars

Overview –

Raised his stock with an excellent week at the East-West Shrine Game. Is versatile enough to play tackle at the next level, but many project him as a guard in the NFL. A three-time All-Ivy League selection. Has a nasty attitude and finishes his blocks well. Boothe is a sleeper that is steadily moving his way up the draft boards.

Run-blocking – Is an aggressive and powerful run-blocker that has the ability and attitude to finish blocks. Road-grader that may have trouble getting to the second level of the defense because of his lack of speed. Relatively quick and agile for a man his size.

Pass-blocking –

Packs a powerful initial punch and engulfs bull-rushers with his size. Long arms and quick feet allow him to mirror pass-rushers and keep them at bay. Lacks experience against top competition.

Roster impact on Seattle –

Boothe’s lack of ideal competition is probably going to be a red-flag for some teams. The Hawks would be able to allow him to sit for a year while learning the system. He is an excellent pass-blocker already and that bodes well for his ability to fit into the Hawks’ system.

Final Analysis –

Durability is the main concern with Boothe. He’s had multiple hand and ankle injuries in high school and college. He’s improved his strength and conditioning and scouts love his attitude and athleticism. Probably an early second day selection, but some have him projected at the end of the day one.

[Angry Pope]

Boothe Readies for NFL Draft

By Brian Tsao
Sun Senior Writer


As down-to-earth Kevin Boothe '05 - a 6-4, 316-pound giant among men - is, even he raised an eyebrow for a moment during the NFL Combine in late February. He was about to do a drill when he looked over, and saw that standing less than 10 feet away from him, was the Dallas Cowboys head coach and two-time Super Bowl winner Bill Parcells.

"It's kind of like I'm in a dream, in a fog," Boothe said about his past few months over the phone Friday.

Boothe, a former Red offensive lineman, three-time first-team All Ivy selection, and future NFL player, has traveled a road not normally taken by Ivy Leaguers.

He has been touted by NFL Draft analysts, including ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., as the top Division I-AA prospect this year. On ESPN's SportsCenter in early March, Kiper labeled Boothe as this year's top sleeper pick and said the lineman, who has played at the guard and tackle positions at Cornell, could go as high as late in the second round.

Not that any of this hype distracts Boothe. The Plantation, Fla., native, who is currently at home right now working out in preparation for the April 29-30 draft, said that since he graduated from Cornell in mid-December, he's trying to block out the clamor and focus on improving his weaknesses.

"I hear the stuff people tell me and what they think, but I don't take it that much into account," Boothe said. "It's all speculation ? I don't think the teams even know what they're doing at this point."

And in regards to Kiper, he said, "Even as great as Mel Kiper is, he doesn't know where I'll end up."

It doesn't particularly matter what team he joins, he said, even in cold climates, as for many years he plied his trade on Schoellkopf Field. From the time he left East Hill, Boothe has been looking forward to performing at the highest level while silencing his critics who cite that the lineman has not played against top-notch competition in Division I-AA football.

"That is something I've heard, but at the same time, I think my technique is good to the point that going against better players should not matter," he said.

"I've told this to him, I've told this to the scouts: He's every bit as good as anyone I've been around at that level," said Cornell head coach Jim Knowles '87, who oversaw NFL-capable players in his previous position at the University of Mississippi. "We're all very proud of him, [and] Kevin is that type of person where you know he's got everything under control."

One way he attempted to take his ability to the next level was through training in Orlando in preparation for the combine, with other NFL prospects and renowned sports trainer Tom Shaw. The experience proved to be beneficial for Boothe, who thinks that he is much more explosive since he left Cornell. To go along with this, Boothe became friends with other lineman, such as projected first round top-5 pick D'Brickashaw Ferguson from Virginia.

"He's a great person and just getting to work with him, we get to learn a lot from each other in terms of doing things technique-wise on the offensive line," Boothe said.

Boothe was invited to participate in the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 21, giving him the first opportunity to go up against some of the best players in this year's draft. The lineman was also able to start talking to professional coaches and scouts, but he made sure not to be totally overwhelmed by the situation and the opponents he faced.

"I think that's the one thing that you have to get out of your head," said Boothe, who added that he felt he adjusted well to the game's faster pace. "You might see a Miami or a USC helmet, but then when you see them in person, they're not much different than what I am."

The other major experience Boothe, who has been projected by a variety of sources to be selected between the second and fifth rounds, gained was in the NFL Combine, which took place in Indianapolis. The combine lasted a week and although 40-yard dash times, bench-press marks and certain quarterbacks' Wonderlic test scores are often highlighted, Boothe's days involved much more than that - his day usually started at 5:30 in the morning and ended at 11 at night.

During this time, he met a slew of position and head coaches and they mostly told him that the combine was used "to reassert what they [originally] thought about you."

On one whole field day, Boothe and other players were doing physical evaluations with each of the 32 NFL teams. Boothe, who has had a serious ankle injury, as well as a pair of broken hands in the past, was not fazed by the procedures where they "get to poke and pull on you."

"It's not a concern for me, but teams have to cover their bases because they have to make sure that I'm OK. It's nothing out of the ordinary," he said.

Boothe was back in Ithaca a couple of weeks ago to visit some of his former teammates and for a little while, relive some of his college days among his peers. He's been surpassed in one of his hobbies, playing video games like Madden, by some of his closest friends, but it was "great to see a lot of the guys."

Boothe has privately worked out with the Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars and attended a pro day in Syracuse, where he met more team representatives. He said he has no idea what team he will end up with, but even with Kiper's compliments, Boothe is staying even keel.

"I didn't see it for a couple of days, I heard about it though," Boothe said of Kiper's praise on SportsCenter. "It's great to get my name out there ? [but] the last thing you want to do is build your hopes up and then on Draft Day, you're disappointed."

Until then, Boothe will train and wait with his anxious and excited family, knowing that in as little as a month, he could possibly be across the country practicing for a professional team and fulfilling his ultimate goal.

"I guess I think everyone who plays football wants to play as long as they can," Boothe said. "I want to seize the opportunity Cornell gave me and try to make the best of it now."

[Angry Pope]

Raiders select Kevin Boothe in round six

Apr 30, 2006

In the sixth round, with the 176th overall selection, the Oakland Raiders selected Cornell offensive lineman Kevin Boothe.

A four-time All-Ivy League offensive lineman, Kevin Boothe was widely considered the best lineman from the Ivy League.
Boothe has experience playing at both right guard and right tackle, seeing action at right tackle throughout 2004. He also has logged game time at left tackle for Cornell.

Blessed with long arms, he has the ability to keep defenders at bay and he is considered to be a player who is raw but has a good amount of upside.

Boothe started all 10 games at left tackle this past season, leading an offensive line that led the Cornell running game averaged 248.9 yards per game (eighth nationally). The Big Red offense ran for 26 touchdowns and averaged 4.4 yards per carry.

The last player taken from Cornell was also selected by the Raiders - Chad Levitt in the fourth round of the 1997 draft.

[Rupert]

I really liked the interview with Boothe. Articulate, thoughtful, good sense of humor.

[Angry Pope]

Some more...

Kevin Boothe is a massive, for the Ivy League and all conferences, offensive tackle that just dominates opponents. Boothe is very experienced and uses his great size advantage to beat up on opponents. A big defensive end in the Ivy League is about 240 pounds so Boothe routinely has about a 100 pound advantage over his opponents. Although most players with such an advantage would get lazy in their technique Boothe does not. He has very good form for an Ivy League player who usually does not have the benefit of the best coaching. Boothe is light on his feet as well which is going to be essential if he is to transfer his skills to the next level. He will struggle at first at the next level as it is a huge step up from the Ivy League to the NFL but he should be able to do okay. Projects as a mid to late round draft choice in the 2006 NFL Draft.

[Angry Pope]

Boothe bound for Bay Area
Oakland selects Cornell guard in sixth round

By CHRISTOPHER FEAVER
Journal Staff

ITHACA — It took longer than he thought, or hoped, but Kevin Boothe was picked by the Oakland Raiders on Sunday in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

Boothe, a four-time All-Ivy League offensive lineman at Cornell, got a phone call early Sunday afternoon from Raiders head coach Art Shell and co-offensive line coach Jackie Slater, letting Boothe know he was their man. A minute later, Boothe's name was scrolling across the television on ESPN, which was broadcasting the draft nationally.


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He was the first Ivy League player picked this year and the first Cornell player drafted since both defensive lineman Seth Payne and running back Chad Levitt were chosen in the fourth round in 1997. Coincidentally, Levitt also was picked by the Raiders.

“They told me they liked what they saw when they scouted me at the (East-West) Shrine Game,” said Boothe from his home in Plantation, Fla., where he watched the draft with his family.
Boothe, all 6-foot-5, 320 pounds of him, had been projected to go higher in the draft. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had said he would be a third, or perhaps second, round-pick last fall. But earlier this week, he said Boothe may go as late as the fifth round.

“Once it got to the middle of the fifth round (I became worried),” Boothe said. “I think I ended up in a good situation.

“It has been a long four months. I'm glad the whole (draft) process is over with.”

It was a tough time, in general, for offensive guards in the 2006 draft. Georgia's Max Jean-Gilles, touted as perhaps the best of this year's batch, fell to the fourth round before he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles. In all, 10 offensive guards were picked before Boothe, who was the 176th pick overall.

The Raiders have been a team in turmoil in recent years. But Shell promises to re-establish a winning attitude. Shell is a NFL Hall of Fame offensive tackle who went 54-38 in his first stint as head coach of Oakland, getting the Raiders to the playoffs three times.

The Raiders are a team rich with history,” Boothe said. “I think that is a good scenario (that the head coach is a former offensive lineman).”

Boothe was the second lineman picked by the Raiders in the draft. Offensive tackle Paul McQuiston, from Weber State, was tabbed by Oakland in the third round.

“They need help on the offensive line,” Boothe said. “It should be fair competition.”

Boothe, who played offensive tackle in his final two years at Cornell, and who was a guard his freshman and sophomore years, likely will be considered a guard, initially, by Oakland. The guard position is considered less physically demanding of the two positions.

The Raiders did not indicate to Boothe what position he would initially be playing.

Boothe will be jetting off to California next week for Oakland's mini-camp, which begins next weekend.

[Angry Pope]

Art talks about Boothe and the rest of the draft picks...

Raiders Excited About Draft

May 1, 2006


Shortly after 3:00 p.m. yesterday, Paul Salata, who founded the "Mr. Irrelevant" award in 1976, stepped to the podium at Radio City Music Hall in New York to announce the final selection in the 2006 NFL Draft. With that pick, The Oakland Raiders added Maine WR Kevin McMahan to an exciting, versatile 2006 Draft class.

The Raiders selected seven players in all during the NFL's 71st Annual Selection Meeting - Texas safety Michael Huff, UTEP LB Thomas Howard, Weber State OL Paul McQuistan, USC safety Darnell Bing, Cornell OL Kevin Boothe, Michigan State C Chris Morris and Maine WR Kevin McMahan.

"We will always take what we think is the best player for our football team and if that happens to be a need for us then so be it," Raiders Head Coach Art Shell told the Bay Area media at the conclusion of the Draft. "I think it went well for the Raiders. I would say we got the players that we wanted."

The Raiders began Day 2 of the Draft and selected Bing with their 4th Round choice. Bing started 35 games for the Trojans. He recorded 182 tackles (120 solos) and had 12.5 stops for losses of 29 yards, including an assisted sack. He caused three fumbles while recovering another. He deflected eighteen passes and intercepted eight others for 161 yards in returns (20.1 avg) and a touchdown. His 161 yards on eight interception returns rank fourteenth on the school's career-record list. Bing was an All-American first-team selection by the Associated Press after the 2005 season.

"[Bing] can play on the box, he can run and he can cover," Coach Shell said. "We decided that he would be a good prospect as a linebacker. That's where were projecting him."


The Raiders selected Cornell offensive lineman Kevin Boothe with their 6th Round pick. The 6'4", 320-pounder was a three-time All-Ivy League selection and only the fourth Cornell player to earn All-Ivy League honors three times in a career. "He lost a lot of weight he moves a whole lot better," Coach Shell said. "We did get some big guys, you can't have enough of the big guys. He was a left tackle [at Cornell] but we saw him at a All-star game where he played guard."

With the first of two 7th Round choices, the Raiders stayed on the offensive line and picked up Michigan State C Chris Morris. The 6'4", 305-pounder was a three-year starter for the Spartans. Morris, who started his last 45 games at Michigan State, recorded 186 career knockdown blocks and allowed only one sack over the past two seasons. In 2005, he earned Academic All-America honors for the fourth straight year.

"One thing you learn when you come in this league, you are going to be more than just a center. Versatility is important for a young guy when he comes in," Coach Shell said. "Any time you find anybody who can snap the ball, it bodes well for that young man and that bodes well for your football team. [Morris] will come in and compete and work as a center, and have the opportunity at the guard position."

And last, but certainly not least, the Raiders selected Maine WR Kevin McMahan with the final choice in the 2006 NFL Draft.

"McMahan is 6'2" and he can run and he can catch the ball," Coach Shell said. "We saw some cut ups of him against Nebraska. The guy was exciting."

The Draft class will get their first taste of life in the NFL when they arrive in California later this week. The Raiders will get their first look at the complete 2006 squad starting Friday morning during the team's mandatory mini-camp at the Silver and Black's Alameda, Calif., facility.

[Angry Pope]

Kevin Boothe - Tackle

Height: 6'4
Weight: 327lbs.
College: Cornell

Bio: Easily Division I-AA's top offensive lineman. Boothe has great size and easily man handles opposing defensive lineman. Should be one of the first small schoolers off the board.



What will you be doing to prepare for Aprils NFL Draft?

I'm actually training in Orlando, FL right now.

Its no secret about the size of your arms, do you enjoy throwing around smaller defensive lineman?

Ha, well, it's not easy. I've gone against smaller guys and my technique has paid off. I will have to continue to improve to succeed at the next level.

Would you say your a better run or pass blocker?

I would say run blocker because we ran the ball quite a bit this past season at Cornell.

You have experience at basically every position on the offensive line, what role do you see yourself playing on an NFL team?

From what i hear, I will be a guard. I'm hoping that the fact I have played tackle will help my stock.

Do you feel coming from a smaller school you will need more time to adjust to the NFL?

I don't think so. I will definitely have to adjust, but it should not be any more time than a major D-1 guy.

What defensive lineman are you most looking forward to facing in the NFL?

No one in particular. I am just looking forward to playing on a level that I have dreamed about since I was a child.

Who has been the best player you have faced throughout your college career?

Probably, Nick Hartigan from Brown. I know I did not play against him because he was on offense, but his durability, toughness, and character is tremendous.

Any expectations as where you will be selected come April?

I have no expectations. Whenever, where ever, I will be excited. I'm just looking for an opportunity.

What current NFL player would you most compare your style of game too?

I don't know. I watch a lot of football, but I don't know who's style I emulate. I probably try to learn as much as I can from everyone.


What will you miss most about college football?

It would be the time with my teammates, because we are in class together, practice together, and games. I have so many fond memories of college, that I will cherish forever. The guys on the team will be my friends for life.

[Angry Pope]

Boothe scored a 37 on his Wonderlic test.

[Rupert]

No shock. Everything you've brought us about this guy looks good.

[Angry Pope]

An award for Boothe....

Boothe Named Sun's Athlete of the Year '06

By Brian Tsao
Sun Senior Writer

Clearing a path. Senior offensive lineman Kevin Boothe (77) was a four-time All-Ivy selection and the football team's Pop Warner MVP during his career at Cornell.

The big guy was getting a little nervous.

Names flickered across the bottom of the television like stocks being bought on Wall Street. He waited.

Finally, as ESPN was talking about one of the top-10 picks in the entire NFL draft, it was official - Kevin Boothe, offensive lineman, sixth round, Oakland Raiders.

Back at home, in Plantation Fla., the big guy took a big sigh of relief. He spoke briefly to Oakland head coach Art Shell and offensive line coach Jackie Slater - both Hall-of-Famers on the O-Line. He hung up, and sat down. He did it.

"It's crazy," Boothe said over the phone on Tuesday. "Just thinking back, it was just yesterday when I was coming to Cornell. I kind of had a bit of the butterflies about going on to the NFL. But I'm ready, I've learned a lot about myself and football in the last five years. I'm looking forward to take the next step."

However, Boothe is not merely the Cornell Daily Sun's Senior Athlete of the Year for that most recent step last Sunday. Instead, it is because of all of those little steps in between arriving at Cornell and departing for the NFL that has made him one of the most successful and recognizable athletes in his class.

But an offensive lineman? Recognizable? Sure, it's obvious that Boothe has almost every accolade a Division I-AA lineman could attain - first team All-American and four-time All-Ivy selection. Besides that though, it is hard to quantify his impact with the position he plays. Perhaps the easiest way to do it is just to watch him.

"He's the only offensive lineman I have ever seen who would draw cheers from the crowd," said Cornell head coach Jim Knowles '87. "When you showed film of him to the rest of the team ? it was an example [of how to play]."

Last season, when the Red earned a successful 6-4 season, Boothe was not hard to miss. Watching this 6-4, 310-pound linemen push around Ivy opponents like shopping carts was almost poetic - both for his mastery of his foe, and the mere fact that his pushing led teammates sophomore running back Luke Siwula and senior Ryan Kuhn to 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Manhandling defensive linemen on a consistent basis, yes, that's usually a great example of how to play.

"We're kind of anonymous - if we're getting talked about, most of the time, it's for a bad reason … [When we do well,] we feel just as good as the other guys. We knew we had a role in that success," he said.

However, when his team needed a yard, they almost always went through Boothe.

"I think anybody who's competitive wants their number called in crucial situations, so that's something I'm looking forward to. It's something I took pride in," he said.

The man's toughness is unquestioned. After breaking both of his hands, Boothe missed only one week before coming out and playing - even with Cornell in the midst of an atrocious 1-9 season. He's battled several injuries over his time at East Hill, including an ankle injury that made him miss freshman year, but he has quietly persevered.

"There's nobody tougher," Knowles said. "He never would say a word. You could totally count on him, even if he was hurt, to play through the pain."

Boothe is a rarity. He's the first Cornell player drafted in the NFL Draft since Chad Levitt '97 and Seth Payne '97 in 1997 and, as Knowles notes, the specter of someone from East Hill playing in one of the most popular leagues in the nation is almost as rare as a comet sighting.

"The statistics don't lie," Knowles said. "The Ivy League, these days, is going to have one guy each year who is going to be drafted."

Draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. said that the lineman could go as high as the second round, other scouts thought he'd go early on the second day. Boothe had dropped at least 40 pounds since his freshman year to become the lean, mean blocking machine that opponents feared and teammates loved. But on Sunday, with his family around him, he was still nervous. He had taken all of the little steps to get to that couch that day, overcoming serious injury, leading the football team back from Ivy League obscurity and establishing himself as Cornell's most important player - even though he is, well, only an offensive lineman.

But luckily for him, his name was called. He's in California now, participating in mini-camp, taking steps he could not even imagined when he first came to Ithaca.

As for the program he left behind, his tracks are still prevalent. His larger-than-life picture is the background of a ceiling-to-floor display box talking about the new football team under Knowles. And on one of the trophies, his name is imprinted. The award? The team's Pop Warner Most Valuable Player.

Not bad for just an offensive lineman.

"It's a great honor to be looked upon that way and it's something that I will definitely cherish," Boothe said about The Sun's award. "It's an exciting award and it shows that people do pay attention to an offensive lineman."