photo by: AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Kansas defensive lineman Austin Booker runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis.

Former Kansas defensive end Austin Booker got selected by the Chicago Bears at No. 144 overall in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon.

Booker’s college career took off following a transfer to KU; he played in six games with two career tackles in two years at Minnesota before joining the Jayhawks for his redshirt sophomore season.

His length and athleticism at 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds made him a potent threat as an edge rusher, and despite starting just one game, he was able to rack up 56 tackles (including 12 for loss), eight sacks and two forced fumbles, and earned the Big 12 Conference’s award for defensive newcomer of the year.

Despite the small sample size, he quickly became a highly touted NFL Draft prospect, and his draft stock remained high even after a performance at the NFL Scouting Combine that disappointed some evaluators.

Ultimately, though, his selection came a day later than that of his KU teammate Dominick Puni, an offensive lineman who went 86th overall to the San Francisco 49ers on Friday night.

This is the first year multiple KU football players have been selected since 2015, when Ben Heeney, JaCorey Shepherd and Dexter McDonald went in the later rounds.

Much like Puni, Booker opted out of the Jayhawks’ Guaranteed Rate Bowl appearance, then participated in the Senior Bowl and the combine. Unlike Puni, who was a redshirt senior, he forewent two remaining years of college eligibility in order to do so.

“I know I will be in good hands going forward,” Booker said after being selected, per a KU press release. “I’m 21, so I know that I have a lot of years ahead of me to get stronger and get faster, so I’m just looking to keep growing in the NFL.”

Booker is a native of Greenwood, Indiana, and attended Center Grove High School.

It hasn’t been long since KU had a defensive end drafted, as two of the last three Jayhawks selected prior to Puni had played that position. Kyron Johnson was the Jayhawks’ previous draftee before Friday, although he has ended up playing more of a linebacker role in the pros. He currently is listed on the roster of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dorance Armstrong, the other defensive end selection and a fellow fourth-round pick, spent six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and now plays for the Washington Commanders.