Sam Baker (offensive tackle)

Infobox NFLactive
name=Sam Baker

---

caption=Baker walking with the USC Trojans
currentteam=Atlanta Falcons
currentnumber=72
currentposition=Offensive tackle
birthdate=birth date and age|1985|5|30
birthplace=Tustin, California
heightft=6
heightin=5
weight=312
debutyear=
debutteam=
college=Southern California
draftyear=2008
draftround=1
draftpick=21
pastteams=
* Atlanta Falcons (2008-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* "SN" Freshman All-Pac-10 (2004)
* "SN" Freshman All-American (2004)
* 3x First-team All-Pac-10 (2005-2007)
* 3x AP All-American (2005-2007)
nfl=BAK597488

Samuel Baker (born May 30, 1985 in city-state|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.

He is the son of former Arena Football League commissioner C. David Baker.

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.

College career

Baker was a 2005 All-American offensive tackle for the University of Southern California Trojans as a redshirt sophomore.

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. In his collegiate career Baker has blocked for Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart and most recently blocked for John David Booty at USC. He was named to the 2005 and 2006 coaches and rivals.com All Pac-10 team First Teams [The awards are voted on by Pac-10 coaches. [http://usc.scout.com/2/595004.html 2006 All Pac-10 team] , scout.com, November 27, 2006.] . He was a 2006 CBS Sportsline and FWAA first-team All-American, rivals.com second team All-American and SI All-American honorable mention.

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". [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0704/gallery.cfb.top20.players.for.07/content.16.html Top 20 Players Heading Into 2007] , CNNSI.com, April 24, 2007.] 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. [Len Pasquarelli, [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2867242 Good protection is hard to find] , ESPN.com, May 11, 2007.]

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.Gary Klein, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-uscbaker21sep21,1,2021449,full.story Top of the line] , "Los Angeles Times", September 21, 2007.]

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. [http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120307aal.html Pac-10 Football Awards and All-Conference Team Announced] , Pacific 10 Conference, December 3, 2007.] Baker was also named Walter Camp First Team All-American in 2007, and the SI.com All-American Second Team.

Professional career

Atlanta Falcons

Sam Baker was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round (21st overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. On July 25, he signed a multi-year contract.

Personal

In his youth, Baker was an all-sport athlete and played on the vaunted Tustin All-Net team The Scream Team.

References

External links

* [http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Players/Active/Sam_Baker.aspx Atlanta Falcons bio]
* [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/baker_sam00.html USC Trojans bio]