Sam Baker (American football)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Baker walking with the USC Trojans to a stadium before a game |
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| Atlanta Falcons — No. 72 | |
| Offensive tackle | |
| Date of birth: May 30, 1985 | |
| Place of birth: Tustin, California | |
| Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | Weight: 305 lb (138 kg) |
| National Football League debut | |
|---|---|
| No regular season or postseason appearances | |
| Career history | |
| College: Southern California | |
| NFL Draft: 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21 | |
Teams:
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| Current status: Unsigned Draft Pick | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Sam Baker (born May 30, 1985 in Tustin, California) is an American football offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons 21st overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California.
Baker is the son of Arena Football League commissioner C. David Baker.
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[edit] Early years
He graduated from Tustin High School in Tustin, California where Frostee Rucker, Chris Barrett, Matt McCoy, Chris Chester, and Deshaun Foster went. He played in the 2003 U.S. All-American Bowl. The Falcons traded two of their second-round picks (No. 34 and No. 48) and a fourth round pick (No. 103) with Washington to move to No. 21 overall.
[edit] College career
[edit] 2005 season
Baker was a 2005 All-American offensive tackle for the University of Southern California Trojans as a redshirt sophomore.
[edit] 2006 season
He was on the official 2006 watch list for the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy watch list for the best lineman and an Athlon 2006 preseason All-American. Baker has blocked for Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart and now he blocks for John David Booty at USC. He was named to the 2005 and 2006 coaches and rivals.com All Pac-10 team First Teams[1]. He was a 2006 CBS Sportsline and FWAA first-team All-American, rivals.com second team All-American and SI All-American honorable mention.
[edit] 2007 season
Going into his fourth year as a starter, Baker was a 2007 Athlon, Sporting News, Street & Smith's, Lindy's, Phil Steele's, CBS SportsLine.com, Scout, Blue Ribbon and NationalChamps.net preseason All-American and on the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy watch lists. He was ranked as one of the "Top 20 Players Heading Into 2007" by Sports Illustrated.[2] Before his final season in 2007, Baker was already regarded by most NFL scouts as a certain top-five player in the 2008 NFL Draft.[3]
During the 2007 season, Baker took on a leadership role in the offensive line, taking over the reins from departed senior Ryan Kalil and providing motivation as well as helping teach younger players.[4]
Despite suffering from injuries that held him out of games, Baker was again selected for the All-Pacific-10 Conference first team, his third consecutive year.[5] Baker was also named Walter Camp First Team All-American in 2007, and the SI.com All-American Second Team. Baker is expected to be drafted in the middle of the first round of the NFL Draft.[6]
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Atlanta Falcons
Sam Baker was selected 21st in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2008 NFL Draft.
[edit] Personal
In his youth, Baker was an all-sport athlete and played on the vaunted Tustin All-Net team The Scream Team.
[edit] References
- ^ The awards are voted on by Pac-10 coaches. 2006 All Pac-10 team, scout.com, November 27, 2006.
- ^ Top 20 Players Heading Into 2007, CNNSI.com, April 24, 2007.
- ^ Len Pasquarelli, Good protection is hard to find, ESPN.com, May 11, 2007.
- ^ Gary Klein, Top of the line, Los Angeles Times, September 21, 2007.
- ^ Pac-10 Football Awards and All-Conference Team Announced, Pacific 10 Conference, December 3, 2007.
- ^ SI.com's All-Americas, SI.com, December 11, 2007.
[edit] External links
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