A fierce, hard-hitting competitor who is expected to battle for playing time at one of the safety positions despite status as a returning starter ... Level of competition was significantly raised by new coaching staff with move of linebackers Jamar Flournoy and Pierre Parker to secondary prior to the spring workout period ... Rated as the 30th-best strong safety in the country by Phil Steele's College Football ... A Preseason Second-Team All-Conference USA pick by Lindy's National College Football Magazine (third-team choice by Phil Steele's) ... Turned in stellar effort during the Purple-Gold Game, netting seven tackles (2.5 for lost yardage) ... Also forced a fumble, knocked down a pass and returned an interception 75 yards for a TD early in the second quarter. 2004: Started all 11 games at the free safety position ... Stood second on unit with 76 tackles, 47 coming on solo hits to earn All-Conference USA honors (third-team) ... Topped Pirates with five interceptions (Wake Forest, Tulane, Army, Houston and N.C. State) ... Credited with two sacks (WFU, Louisville) and five overall stops for lost yardage ... Had pass breakups against Southern Miss and Army ... Turned in two double-digit tackle performances, booking a season-best 11 hits vs. Southern Miss in Hattiesburg after picking up 10 stops vs. Wake Forest in home opener ... Assisted on six tackles in first career collegiate I-A contest at West Virginia ... Late third quarter pick against Demon Deacons set up TD to help Pirates close to within seven points ... Recorded eight tackles vs. Cincinnati and collected four tackles and a sack versus Louisville ... Collected eight tackles and returned an interception for 27 yards in win over Army ... Other games of note include a nine-tackle effort at USF and a six-stop outing vs. Memphis ... Picked off three passes in the last five games (four in last seven) ... Five interceptions ranked 12th nationally (most at ECU since 1998) ... Joined ECU program in January, 2004 (early signee) and participated in spring drills. At Pima Junior College: A two-time All-Western States Football League selection ... Earned honorable mention NJCAA All-America honors ... Tallied 62 tackles and six interceptions as a sophomore (final season) ... Ran a 4.50 40-yard dash. High School: Starred at Sabino (Ariz.) High School, one of the Tuscon area's top prep programs ... Named to all-city squad ... Helped lead team to the state title game and 13-1 record as a junior ... Recorded six interceptions and caught 12 touchdowns passes during senior campaign ... Personal: A communications major ... Son of William and Janet Baker ... Born July 27, 1983.
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