Derek Tarver Bringing the Thunder
 

LINKS

WINNIPEG OFFICIAL SITE

WINNIPEG ON "SLAM"

FEATURE ARTICLE ON DANTE

AIFL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

 

BOOKER'S COLTS PHOTOS
AKRON BEACON JOURNAL ARTICLE
INDIANAPOLIS STAR ARTICLE

The Dante Booker File
Other Articles on Dante

Dante Booker  
Jamey Carroll  
Jake Cepis
Sian Cotton  
Robert Davis   
Tim Drew
Robbie Eggers   
Jon Hamilton             
Dave Harris
Josh Holden             
Tug Hulett               
Mike / Ryan Hurley    
Lebron James 
Dru Joyce   
Greg Lewis              
Andy McCollum       
Mark Moos
Jimmy Oliver              
Mike Rupp                 
Tony Stockman           
Drew Sutton              
Derrick / Darren Tarver
Romeo Travis            
Jared Villers              

Brandon/Jason Wallace   

Damien Wilkins           
Jeremiah Wood           
Ben Zobrist       

 

 


DANTE'S TESTIMONY

Dante's testimony is so dramatic and requires so much explanation, it is best described in a feature story done in 2004 in the
Vancouver Sun newspaper. 

Click here to read it in detail.

 


Dante (second from left) with Deion Sanders on the day of Deion's first sermon.  Columbus, Ohio

THE TEAM JAM CONNECTION

In the early years of the TEAM JAM ministry, we weren't much more than a couple of middle school and high school AAU basketball teams . . . with a very limited schedule.  One of the middle school players, Kyle Mraz, played on another AAU team that included Dante.  

Kyle's grandfather, Sam Serves, was raving about the physical appearance and abilities of Dante and insisted that John Saucier  meet him.  The meeting was arranged at Hyre middle school and it was in the spring of Dante's eighth grade year.

Things weren't going very well for Dante or at home. There was a lot of adversity that he was fighting through . . . and that is putting it mildly.  His grades were affected and everyone concerned arranged a deal for Dante's benefit . . . and ours.

John met with Dante a couple of times a week to tutor him and help him raise his grades enough to pass.  Sam provided the motivation.  If he passed all his classes, Sam would take him immediately to the nearest sports store and buy him the best basketball shoes on the market.

Dante did remarkably well during that last six week grading period.  Sam, in turn,  was true to his word, taking him into the store and over to the shoe rack where Dante pointed to the top shelf at the top of the line "Jordan's"  and said . . . 

"I want those."

They've been a team ever since. That journey has taken them through three high schools, three junior colleges, and eventually to Auburn U. and professional football.  But along the way also came a decision to trust Christ as His Savior, a decision to surrender fully to making Christ the Lord of his life and being an example to young people from Maryland, to Ohio, to Alabama and now in Vancouver, Canada..   

God has just begun to unveil the work that He has miraculously done in this young man's life on the athletic world and the viewing community.  Join with us in praying for Dante and his efforts to stay committed to his work as a "missionary" of sorts to the professional football community.

 

 

Bringing the                                                                                                                                               THUNDER        

 TEAM JAM BASKETBALL     LEBRON    HOME PAGE      HEAVEN       TEAM JAM FOOTBALL     TEAM JAM BASEBALL

DANTE BOOKER 
6'4"   283 lbs.       Def. Line
 

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
(CFL)


Agent Representation:  Bill Parise
- 412.370.8258


NEWS
Dante is presently (fall 2006) on the practice squad with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  For an article on his spot start with the Blue Bombers, click here . . . .
 


COMBINE STATS
(as of April 14th, 2003 workout at Kent St.)

Height:  6' 03"  (in socks)            Weight: 278
Vertical:  33 1/2 inches               Shuttle:  4.34
225 Bench: 32 reps              40 yard:  4.62
Three Cone Drill:  7.11            Broad Jump: 
9'6" 
(Non-combine stat)  Maximum bench: 490 lbs. 


 

Dante Booker

  

VIDEO OF 40 YARD - 4.62
at Kent St. - April 14, 2003

 

VERTICAL LEAP - 33 1/2
Video from Kent St. - April 14, 2003

THREE CONE TEST - 7.11
Video from Kent St. 
April 14. 2003

Click on picture to view 
video of his 32 reps

HIGH SCHOOL GAME DUNK
Video

 

PERSONAL INTEREST

AUBURN FIRST GAME MEMORIES

On September 4, 2001, autigers.com's Jason Caldwell reported that  "Inside at defensive tackle, the rapid improvement of Dante Booker continues to be the story of the season.  Only three weeks into his college football career, the junior college transfer has moved into a position to split reps with Dexter Murphy at second team left tackle behind Demarco McNeil."

Caldwell continued to report Coach Lovett as saying that "Last week he kind of got initiated into college football a little bit.  This week (against Ole Miss) being a TV game and an SEC game, the goose bumps might be there a little bit for him as far as maybe getting down as much he needs to be.  Again, we'll keep an eye on him but he's made some great strides this week. He should have an increased role."

Booker  had five tackles, four solos.  One tackle was for a loss and another was for a sack, one of only three on the day by the team.  He played only 17 snaps, yet was in on almost one third of the plays.   

Dante graded out at a gaudy 123%.

Dante Booker makes a tackle vs. Ball State.
Dante makes one of his tackles against Ball State

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
 

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) 2006
Started one game for Winnipeg, played well in place of injured player and has been on practice squad for duration of season.

Canton Legends (AIFL) - 2006
Dante played for the local Canton Legends of the Indoor Football League in the Spring of 2006, achieving player of the week status once.  Left team when the CFL season started. 

Georgia Force (AFL1) - 2006
Made it to last cuts in training camp. Veteran team that was in championship game previous year.

Montreal Alouettes (CFL) - 2005
(Oct. 10th) brought in to workout with Alouettes.

British Columbia (CFL) - 2004-5
. . . started at Defensive Tackle for every regular season game in 2004 . . .left off the roster for playoffs . . . was placed on practice squad most of entire '05 season. Was released by team last week in September, picked up by Montreal a week later.

Florida Firecats (AFL2)  - 2004
. . . was among the leaders in tackles on the Firecats from his def. end position . . . was 2nd in the league in tackles for a loss after five games. . . left team because of prearranged contract with the (CFL) B.C. Lions.


Indianapolis Colts (NFL) - 2003
Signed as an undrafted free agent the day of the draft . . . played for the Colts up until the next to last week of the preseason . . . was expected by ESPN and other internet analysts to make the final roster. . . had outstanding camp and workouts. . . outstanding Colt  def. line depth and experience led to a lack of opportunity.


Dante on the line(#97) for the Colts.

 


Tackling Heisman Trophy Winner Carson Palmer in the backfield

AT AUBURN U.

Senior Season Stats (2002)
Junior Season
Stats (2001)

Booker named defensive player of the week for Auburn vs. W. Carolina
Seeing extended playing time in the 56-0 route, Dante took full advantage of his 39 plays with six tackles (2 unassisted) and a caused fumble on Western Carolina's last effort to drive for a touchdown.  See more about Dante's life and his coaches thoughts about his improvement as a player in the following articles
Mobile paper
Huntsville paper

© 2002 webtemplateszone.com

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