Watch former Kansas football standout Austin Booker record first NFL sack

The Kansas football program had two players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, one of them being edge rusher Austin Booker. He transferred to the Jayhawks following a one-year stint at Minnesota and immediately became KU's top pass-rusher. He recorded a team-high 8.0 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, earning himself All-Big 12 First Team honors at the end of the season.

While many fans believe his departure was premature and he should have waited to develop, his decision to head to the pros is paying off. The Chicago Bears selected him in the fifth round of this year's NFL Draft at No. 144 overall. Not only did he make the 53-man roster after the preseason, but he has already carved out a significant role on the defensive line's rotation. The 6-foot-6 physical specimen tallied his first career sack against the Carolina Panthers yesterday:

Austin Booker records first-ever NFL sack in Week 5

Albeit in a blowout victory, Booker took the field on a fourth down and finished with a game-sealing sack against former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. It was the first of his young NFL career and hopefully the most of many.

Leading up to Sunday's win, the ex-Jayhawk had accumulated five tackles, one tackle for loss, and a QB hit across the previous three games. He is a rotational piece behind defensive ends DeMarcus Walker and Montez Sweat. Over time, his snaps should continue to pick up.

The current Jayhawks roster could use a player of Booker's caliber right now. They have only recorded 10 sacks through six contests, with Jereme Robinson totaling 3.5. Inside linebacker JB Brown has the second-most with 2.0, making it evident that the pass rush is virtually nonexistent.

Booker is only 21 and recording his first sack is just the beginning for a player whose raw talent is becoming more evident each game. Kansas supporters will always be rooting for him as he builds a name for himself in Chicago, showcasing the tools he first displayed in Lawrence.