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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah senior running back Devontae Booker will miss the remainder of the regular season, according to ESPN 700 radio host Sean O'Connell.
Sources tell me that Devontae Booker has scheduled minor meniscus surgery for today. Hopeful to return for bowl game. #sources#utes
— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) November 19, 2015
Devontae Booker's father confirmed that the senior RB will undergo surgery on a torn meniscus this afternoon... https://t.co/gA85V2YwP0
— David Lombardi (@LombardiESPN) November 19, 2015
Booker, who is the focal point of Utah's offense, will undergo a minor meniscus surgery Thursday and is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. Booker sustained the injury to his knee midway through Utah's game last week against Arizona, but came back to play in the second half.
Although Booker finished the game, head coach Kyle Whittingham said Monday that Booker lacked his aggressiveness with the ball and that it was "very obvious" that he was not at full strength.
"He usually runs with a lot of violence and tenacity, and you could tell that he had lost that edge just a little bit," Whittingham said in his weekly press conference.
Whittingham said on Monday that Booker's likelihood of playing Saturday against UCLA was in question and that further tests were needed to assess the injury Booker sustained. Booker's status for any postseason play would be in question and is uncertain, but Booker's father told ESPN.com that he didn't expect his son to be able to play until the Senior Bowl.
Booker is the nation's leader in carries per game with 26.8 carries and was a major part of Utah's offensive gameplan each week. Booker rushed for 1,261 yards in his senior season and was expected to break John White IV's all-time rushing record of 1,519 yards for Utah. Booker was a few yards short of breaking the record last season, ending with 1,512 yards.
In Booker's absence, Utah will rely upon junior college transfer Joe Williams and senior Bubba Pooele. Williams had 37 rushing yards on seven carries against Arizona, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and is capable of filling Booker's work load. Poole, who was shifted over to the slot receiver position earlier this year, could be another option for Utah in the run game.
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