This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In his one year on the hill, Devontae Booker finished seven yards shy of John White IV's single-season rushing record. In 2015, he'll get another crack at it, according to a release Wednesday from Utah Athletics.

The transfer from American River College has decided to not declare for the NFL Draft and to return to the U., where he rushed for 1,512 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 43 passes for 306 yards and two more, despite not becoming Utah's featured back until the team's fourth game.

Booker's bruising style earned him the nickname "Book Mode," an homage to Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch, and the talent that was apparent to coaches early on in spring ball soon became apparent to NFL Draft pundits, with Booker ranked among the top-10 available backs.

But Booker, a first-team All-Pac-12 and first-team All-Academic Pac-12 player, opted to finish his sociology degree this spring and "further my education in a minor in something else that interests me," he said in the U.'s release.

"Over the break, I had the decision of a lifetime to make about whether to go the NFL or stay in school," he said. "I talked to my family, friends and coaches on the decision, and I've decided to stay at the University of Utah for my senior season."

Although Utah offensive coordinator Dave Christensen left to become Texas A&M's offensive line coach, Utah seems likely to have a fair amount of continuity on offense. Junior left tackle Jeremiah Poutasi opted to declare for the NFL Draft, and Utah loses senior starters Dres Anderson, Westlee Tonga and Kaelin Clay (barring a longshot medical redshirt), but eight players will be back from Utah's 45-10 Las Vegas Bowl victory.

Utah finished 76th in total offense with 388 yards per game, but averaged 457 over their final three games.

"I am excited to see what this season has ahead for the team and me, and this should be another great year for our program," Booker said in the release.

mpiper@sltrib.com Twitter: @matthew_piper