Thomas Booker IV ’18, a defensive tackle entering his third NFL season, earned a spot on the opening 53-man roster for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is one of six interior linemen on the roster.

Booker’s accomplishment marks the culmination of an impressive year of growth. He was injured and waived by the Houston Texans at the end of the 2023 preseason but soon joined the Eagles organization as a practice squad member. He spent the entire 2023 regular season on Philadelphia’s practice squad, during which time he maximized opportunities to learn and improve his technique and skill set. Booker stood out in the 2024 preseason, especially in a six-tackle performance in the finale versus the Minnesota Vikings.

Booker was a fifth-round draft pick by the Houston Texans in 2022 out of Stanford University. He was a star on and off the field for the Cardinal, becoming just the fourth player in Stanford history to be a two-time, first-team Academic All-America selection. He played in 10 games with Houston and registered 15 total tackles.

Read the full story, which includes a brief Q&A with Booker.