Booty Family Tradition Continues
the Last of Four Brothers Experiences His own Brand of Success
Jake Booty is following in the footsteps of John David, Josh and Abram with his selection as Most Valuable Player on Louisiana's 2007 Class 2A All-State team
John David Booty has finished his career at the University of Southern California, but the Booty family still has one more member to follow in the footsteps of his three older brothers.
Jake Booty completed his senior year at Shreveport Calvary Christian Academy as the Most Valuable Player on Louisiana’s 2007 Class 2A All-State team. Like John David and Josh before him, Jake played quarterback. Abram, the fourth brother, was a college wide receiver.
Jake guided Calvary Christian to its first state final appearance, where it lost to perennial prep power John Curtis of River Ridge. Despite Calvary Christian’s only setback, Jake wooed members of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association with is year-long performance.
The youngest Booty spearheaded Calvary’s offense by completing 191 of 288 attempts for 2,823 yards with 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
John David made Louisiana’s All-State team, as well, landing on the 2002 Class 5A squad when state rules allowed high schools to compete in classifications above their student enrollment. Regulations have since changed.
Josh outdid them all when he was named the USA Today National Offensive Player of the Year after his senior season at Shreveport Evangel Christian Academy in 1993. The oldest Booty won the award over the likes of fellow Louisianan Peyton Manning, who was a prep standout in New Orleans before doing the same at Tennessee and with the Indianapolis Colts.
During his high school career, Josh set at least four national passing records that have since been broken. While at Evangel Christian, Josh averaged 365.4 passing yards per game and completed 705 of 1,401 passes and threw for 11,700, including 4,385 in one season.
For all his football success, Josh was an acclaimed baseball player and signed with the Florida Marlins after having been the No. 5 draft choice overall. He briefly made it to the major leagues but opted to return to football after four years of playing professional baseball.
He spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons at LSU, earning All-Southeastern Conference honors in his final year.
Despite his brief college career, and the fact that he didn’t experience his high school success at LSU, Josh became an NFL quarterback.
Abram, the only non-quarterback of the Bootys, was an LSU wide receiver from 1997-99. After a back injury and a coaching change, Abram transferred to Valdosta State to complete his college career.
The Booty’s father, Johnny, is a former Mississippi State quarterback who had a hand in coaching all of his sons. He was an assistant coach at Evangel Christian and a minister at a church associated with the school until he was relieved of his duties.
Once Johnny was dismissed, John David decided to complete his high school credits in summer school, skip his senior year and enroll early at USC.
Johnny helped found Calvary Christian, where he now serves as athletic director and which has produced the latest Booty in upholding the family tradition.
