Kansas Jayhawks football’s Dominick Puni, Austin Booker opt out of Guaranteed Rate Bowl
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Kansas Jayhawks football players Dominick Puni and Austin Booker have opted out of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, coach Lance Leipold said Sunday.
Neither Puni, an offensive lineman, nor Booker, a defensive lineman, was present at KU’s practice on Sunday. Leipold later confirmed they had not made the trip to Phoenix.
Leipold wasn’t exactly shocked.
“Nothing surprises me anymore,” he said. “Those are two very fine players for us. We appreciate everything they’ve contributed this year, Dominick two (years). They both have bright futures.”
Puni transferred to KU from Tennessee Tech before the 2022 season. This season, he started all 13 games at left tackle, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Puni is preparing for the Senior Bowl and NFL Draft. He’s currently projected to be picked in the fourth or fifth round.
Booker joined KU before the 2023 season after two years at Minnesota. He started one game for KU but appeared in a total of 12. He finished with 56 total tackles, including a team-high 12 for loss, and a team-best eight sacks.
He was recognized as the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Many draft experts expect he’ll go undrafted.
