After two years at Ball State and just one at UCLA, former Center Grove star Carson Steele is leaving the college ranks to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL.
Associated Press
Carson Steele and Austin Booker have been roommates since the beginning of the month.
Fortunately for the former Center Grove football players, their new digs incorporate enough square footage to house a pair of NFL dreams.
Steele and Booker are in Fort Myers, Florida, to train for the annual NFL Combine, which takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis from Feb. 29-March 3.
Both players surrendered their remaining college eligibility to declare for the NFL Draft, scheduled for April 25-27 in Detroit.
“Ever since I was young, being in the NFL is something you would write on a piece of paper and hang on your door,” said Steele, 21, the Trojans’ record-shattering running back who spent two seasons at Ball State before transferring to UCLA for the 2023 campaign.
“That was always my dream.”
The same is true for Booker, an All-Big 12 defensive end for Kansas this past season as a redshirt sophomore. Booker began his college career at Minnesota but understandably grew frustrated over a lack of playing time and chose to transfer.
Friends and often football teammates since kindergarten, Steele and Booker are represented by the same agent, Randy Fisher, of Ascend Athletics in Carmel. Neither player participated in their respective teams’ bowl games, choosing instead to focus on the future.
They are in warmer weather to train at X3 Performance and Physical Therapy under former Center Grove quarterback Jordan Luallen, who helped lead the Trojans to the 2008 Class 5A state championship in his senior season with an unforgettable come-from-behind 36-33 win over Carmel.
Luallen is director of performance at X3 Performance.
Both the 6-foot-1, 227-pound Steele, the former Indiana Mr. Football, and the rangy 6-6, 240-pound Booker are putting in the work to be as combine-ready as possible and ultimately be among the 257 players selected in the NFL Draft.
“I feel like I had a very good season, and that it’s good to go out now,” said Booker, 21, who led the Jayhawks this past fall in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (8), and was fourth on the team in tackles (56). “Staying in college and dominating in the same conference wouldn’t benefit me as much as moving on.
“I feel that being comfortable doesn’t make anyone better.”
Steele and Booker were senior starters for the 2020 Center Grove squad that finished 14-0 and captured the third of the program’s five state football championships. Steele rushed for 1,659 yards and 31 touchdowns to pace the Trojans’ offense; Booker’s 36 tackles, 11 of those behind the line of scrimmage, proved significant for the defense.
Their football paths then traveled different directions.
While at Ball State, the only Division I school that offered him a scholarship, Steele rumbled for 2,414 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns while also catching 41 passes for 323 yards for the Cardinals, then put his name in the transfer portal before deciding to play at UCLA.
Steele rushed for 845 yards and six scores in his lone season out west.
“As soon as I entered the portal, it was to be developed to enter the NFL,” said Steele, now able to bench press 440 pounds and squat 675 pounds. “(UCLA coach Chip) Kelly and (running backs coach DeShaun) Foster, learning from them, I figured it was time. It definitely helped learning the little key details of playing the game.
“Breaking down film and learning different types of cuts and what moves to make. I definitely feel like I’ll be drafted, especially if I run a good 40 (at the combine). The goal is to run a 4.50 or 4.49. It’s really about speed and getting my cuts down right.”
At this point, neither is considered a surefire draftee, though Booker was listed as a seventh-round selection in a mock on Draft Countdown last week. Both, however, have the opportunity to up their stock in upcoming college all-star games. Steele is participating in the 99th East-West Shrine Bowl at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on Feb. 1. Two days later, Booker plans to showcase his talents at the Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
Then it’s back to Fort Myers to continue training before returning home for the combine.
As a defensive lineman, Booker will be among those working out on the combine’s first day. Steele and other running back prospects are going to have every aspect of their gridiron skill set placed beneath the microscope by scouts, coaches and general managers the final day of combine.
If not drafted, Steele and Booker can still be picked up by an NFL team as an undrafted free agent. Either way, the days ahead promise no shortage of opportunity.
“The main thing for me has just been to put on a little more weight,” Booker said. “I’ll definitely stay under 250 pounds. I feel it’s my speed and length combined with my natural body strength. I’m very confident that I can show my athletic ability.”
