Andrew Booth talks health, how not participating in Pro Day, Combine impacted draft
As he prepared for the 2022 NFL Draft, former Clemson Tigers cornerback Andrew Booth knew that he was going to have doubters due to his health. He did not participate in Clemson’s Pro Day, nor did he get on the field at the NFL Combine. Booth understands that not participating on the field made it tough for him in the pre-draft process, but he is happy to now know where he will be playing.
The Minnesota Vikings held the tenth pick in the second round of the draft, and that is where Booth went off the board.
“It’s been crazy, but I went into it understanding,” Booth said. “I’m saying everything is about perspective, and from the team’s perspective, I understood I didn’t do the Combine, Pro Day. So I made it kind of hard for everybody to really love me. I know everybody really, really liked me, I was hard to love though. But it was tough, because I know I’m more healthy than the guy that’s on tape. Everybody knows the tape that in these meetings everybody’s putting up. Ten times better than the cat on tape.
“It’s just kind of like a bad feeling, because I know what it is now. Like I know my health, I know where it’s going to be. So I mean it is kind of frustrating, but like I always say, I end up wherever I’m supposed to be and I’m super excited to be a Viking.”
Booth is ready to prove himself after going to the Vikings in the draft
As a freshman in 2019, Booth was limited to just four games at Clemson. He then played in ten games in 2020, totaling 27 tackles with three tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, four passes defended, and returned one fumble for a touchdown. During the 2021 season, he had 37 tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions, and five passes defended in 11 games.
The Vikings needed an upgrade in the secondary entering the draft, and Booth is looking to prove that he is what they needed.
Injuries are nothing new to Booth, as he has been battling through them dating back to his high school days. Now, he is playing with a chip on his shoulder after falling to the second round.
“I haven’t played healthy football since like high school,” Booth said. “So the surgery I just had, that was something from before sophomore year and I got it fixed, and then it didn’t really do well and I got it again recently. But yeah, to say the least I did play through injuries. That’s why it’s like – you kind of have a chip now.”