Baker climbs ranks in linebacking corps

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Special teams stud making name on defensive side of the ball

by Ben Love
Tiger Rag Contributing Writer

(At left) Ryan Baker (22) during Fall Camp. (Photo by Matt Reynolds)

Ryan Baker first made his bones playing the role of hitman as gunner on LSU’s kickoff coverage teams in 2008. The true freshman from Blountstown High School in Grand Ridge, Fla., stood out in his new-found position, earning both the attention of special teams coordinator Joe Robinson and playing time in all 13 games.

So profound was his impact that Robinson is searching for his second coming.

“What we are doing now is looking at some freshmen to see if we can find the next Ryan Baker that can come in and make a difference,” Robinson said in preseason meetings.

High praise for Baker, who, alonside fellow frosh phenom Ron Brooks, was generally considered the best the Tigers had to offer in kick coverage. His jaw-rattling hits also helped endear Baker with the purple-and-gold faithful.

In his first game appearance against Appalachian State, Baker administered several devastating blows en route to a career-high four tackles. He also shined in the regular-season curtain-closer against Arkansas with three tackles. The hard-hitting special teams dynamo ended the campaign with 16 tackles, including seven solo efforts.

Defensively, Baker spent his time on the sideline watching and developing an understanding of the collegiate game’s pace.

“Last year was a big stepping stone for me,” explained Baker. “I had to get adjusted to what was going on.”

Entering his sophomore season bulked up to 221 pounds, Baker had designs on bringing his trademark intensity to the field as a linebacker. But like many Tiger defenders, he underwent some growning pains fitting into the new blueprints laid out by first-year defensive coordinator John Chavis.

“I didn’t really understand the concept of the defense when he [Chavis] first got here,” confessed Baker. “But after a while, it just started clicking a little bit better. I got it.”

Now, coming off the most meaningful snaps of his career at Mississippi State, Baker is beginning to find the rhythym at linebacker.

“At first I was kinda shaky and had to adjust to the speed of what was going on,” Baker said. “Everybody’s tired and giving it their all, so me, coming off the bench, I’m fresh.”

His fresh legs proved pivotal for the Tigers after senior linebacker Jacob Cutrera got dinged up late in the game. Baker’s first extended action came right in time for a goal-line stand.

As Coach Miles remembered: “Jacob Cutrera was nicked, and Baker came in. On his first two plays, you could tell that he just did not exactly feel comfortable with where he was at.

“But on the fourth-down play, he makes an instinctive hit down low, and Chad Jones follows it up. I can only tell you that it was a big play. It was one that he’ll remember for a long time.”

After his performance in Starkville, the speedy Baker is nudging his way into the ‘backer rotation, trying to make the quartet of Cutrera, Perry Riley, Harry Coleman and Kelvin Sheppard, a five-man gig.

Looking ahead to the showdown against Georgia, Miles spoke to the situation at linebacker.

“We don’t anticipate Cutrera will have an issue going. We think that he’ll be fine,” continued the Tiger coach. “But Baker will work in. There are a number of guys there like Ace Foyil that will work in there.”

Whenever he’s needed, history shows that Baker will be ready to hit somebody.