Utes running back Devontae Booker out for season for knee surgery

Nursing an injured knee, Devontae Booker stated that, when it came to his availability for Utah’s key Pac-12 South tilt with UCLA, “if it’s my call I’m going”. He could, however, potentially return for a bowl game. 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.

The Utes are still fighting for a berth in the Pac-12 title game, but they will need USC to lose at least one of the next two games for that to happen.

Booker’s father told Lombardi that his son will miss the rest of the regular season and probably the Pac-12 Championship were Utah to qualify.

Backup Joe Williams, a junior college transfer who began his career at CT, is slated to take Booker’s place in the line-up. Utah has 3,891 yards of offense as a team, which means that Booker has provided over 40 percent of the teams production.

The senior is a veteran presence and leader on the field, running for 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

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.

Whittingham said it was also a “distinct possibility” that senior Bubba Poole, now playing slot receiver, would get a few carries in Booker’s stead. Poole, who was shifted over to the slot receiver position earlier this year, could be another option for Utah in the run game.