Sam Baker

Last Updated: February 21st, 2008
Managed By: Brett Walker

School	USC
Height	6 ' 5.0 "
Weight	305 lbs.
Speed	4.90 ( Unofficial )

Graduation Year	2008
Birth Date	5/30/1985
Jersey #	79
Current Position	OT
Projected Position	OT
CDS Projected 2008 NFL Draft Round	1
Member Projected 2008 NFL Draft Round	Not enough entries

Important Links

USC's Profile for Sam Baker

Stats

Season Year	GP	GS
'04-'05	13	13
'05-'06	13	13
'06-'07	13	13
'07-'08	10	10

Overview

Sam Baker was seen as the best tackle in the country as a sophmore two years ago. Two years later and after several nagging injuries, he appears to almost be back. He is currently ranked anywhere from the #2 to the #5 ranked tackle prospect, with Jake Long locked in as #1. Baker is a 3 time All American(2005, 2006, 2007), making him only the 3rd Trojan to ever pull off the feat. Also, Pac-10 first team all 4 years at USC. One of the best tackles in the country over the course of his career.

Strengths

Baker is huge and uses his plus size as leverage over smaller defenders. Baker is also scarily fast for a man his size. Probably the quickest tackle(for his size) I have ever seen. He has the speed of a tight end with the size of a tackle. A very savvy and tenacious lineman, who Pete Carroll LOVED. He has the most experience of any tackle in the draft this season at a high level(yes even higher than Jake Long), and was an All American 3 times! He does not just block sometimes, but he punishes the opposing defensive line. I have only seen him have one game in my 4 years of watching him play(UCLA 2006), but frankly nearly every other Trojan played poorly that day. He is, in my opinion, the most polished and ready to start player in the draft.

Weaknesses

Find me a weakness in his game, and you are a better football fan/draftnik than me. He really doesn't have one glaring hole. He does however, have some nagging injuries. In fact, he did miss 3 games last season due to hamstring straing, and he did have knee surgery in spring 2007. Injuries are a concern, but Baker did come back at the end of last season to make huge contributions to the Rose Bowl Champion Trojans.

Projection

Baker won't be taken that high, and it truly is a shame. He is the best tackle prospect in this draft for me, and should be #2 for almost anyone else. However, injuries, and the fact that he's a tackle(not exactly the sexy pick most struggling franchises are looking for), will drop him considerably. If he lasts until the end of the first, consider him THE steal of the draft. I see a bright career ahead of him, and possibly a starting job and rookie of the year consideration next season.

Member Ratings

User: jerry14
Date/Time: 02/26/2008 - 7:51PM CST
Predicted Round: Undrafted

Best pass blocking and best zone blocking T in the draft!

User: joemiken
Date/Time: 01/7/2008 - 3:43PM CST
Predicted Round: Round 1

No Comments Submitted

User: ytse_jammer
Date/Time: 09/24/2007 - 2:50PM CDT
Predicted Round: Round 1

Great size but a little slow afoot laterally. Can become a dominant run blocker and should be able to play either LT or RT in the NFL. Sound technique, good knee bend, never holds, finishes every play. Should go in top 5 but he's not quite on the level of Joe Thomas.

User: TrojanJP
Date/Time: 08/2/2007 - 2:35PM CDT
Predicted Round: Round 1

Sam has been the anchor on the USC Offensive Line for the last two years, and now as a returning Senior, he will be expected to be a leader again. At 6'5 he has good size and strength, and could even slide inside to Guard for an NFL team.

User: Tommy Trojan
Date/Time: 05/22/2007 - 11:20PM CDT
Predicted Round: Round 1

Baker is not as big as Long but is more athletic with better technique. He's more of a LT prospect and the best offensive lineman in the nation for the 2007 season. At this point he doesn't have as high a grade as Gallery or Thomas when they came out, but he is a better overall prospect than D'Brick, and that is saying something!