While the recruiting crop in the state of Ohio is a little down in the 2015 class, there are still a couple of players who could be stars a
Buckeyes, Gators, and Vols tied at the top for Jerome Baker
See what Jerome Baker had to say about his recent visits and which schools stand out for him.
Cleveland (OH) Benedictine athlete Jerome Baker might be the cream of the crop in the state’s 2015 class. Baker checks in as the country’s No. 4 athlete, the state of Ohio’s second-best player, and the 41st-best player in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Over the weekend Baker made the trip to East Lansing to visit Michigan State and take in their spring game. He had a very good time on the visit.
“I got to see most of the football facilities and all of that stuff. I also sat down with a few of the academic counselors,” Baker said. “Overall it was a fun trip.”
"It was just like any spring game," Baker continued. "Everybody needs work. Their defensive needs some improvement, but they're definitely moving in the right direction. I was especially impressed with #34 (Taiwan Jones). He's big and physical. It was pretty fun."
A weeks or so ago, Baker visited a couple of schools in SEC country, starting with Tennessee, where he had a very good time.
“It was amazing. It was my first time being down south. It was huge, the people were great,” he said. “Overall the trip was just breathtaking. My dad and brother all said the same things on the way back, it was just a great trip.”
After completing his visit in Knoxville, he made the trip further south to Gainesville, to see what Florida had to offer. The trip was eye opening for the standout athlete.
“It was real good,” he stated. “Florida was a little different because I was there most of the time by myself. My brother and dad went to Orlando to visit my uncle. I really got to get a feel by myself to see if I would like it. Honestly it really fits me. I watched filmed on the position they would have me at, I hung out with the players, and the people were amazing. Being there at Florida covered everything I was looking for in a college.”
Going into the visit, Ohio State was at the top of Baker’s list. That’s no longer the case as two other schools have joined the Buckeyes at the top.
“I’d have to say they’ve evened out. There’s no real leader anymore,” Baker admitted. “Florida is up there, Tennessee is up there. Those three (Florida, Ohio State, and Tennessee) really stick out, but it’s open. Going to the southern schools and Michigan State made my decision harder than I thought it would be going into the visits.”
Baker still has quite a bit of contact with the Ohio State coaching staff as he talks to them every other day.
“I talk to them pretty much every other day,” Baker stated. “Whether it’s on Twitter or the phone, I talk to them a lot.”
“It’s coach (Stan) Drayton, coach (Mark) Pantoni, coach (Luke) Fickell, and coach (Urban) Meyer, he talks to me on Twitter sometimes,” Baker said of his contact with the Ohio State coaches.
Despite already earning an invitation to the Rivals Five-Star Challenge, he would like to earn an invitation to Nike’s “The Opening” and says there’s a good chance he’ll be at the Columbus NFTC at the beginning of June.
“I’m not sure, but it’s most likely, possibly going to happen,” Baker continued. “I definitely going to go to the Rivals Five-Star Challenge.”
If he does in fact make the trip to Columbus for the Nike camp, then he will likely visit Ohio State.
“Yeah I probably will,” Baker stated. “Since it’s already right there, so that would probably happen.”
Penn State was once thought to be the biggest threat in the Buckeyes in the recruitment of Baker, but he would like to see how the Nittany Lions perform on the field this season before putting them in his top group.
“I wouldn’t say faded, but I want to see how they perform and the coaching staff and players react to a brand new season,” Baker explained. “I definitely want to see the first, but it hasn’t faded, but I do need to see what they do this year.”
One school he would like to see this summer is Michigan, though he hasn’t set a date for the trip yet.
“Yes. My dad and I always talk about it and that’s one of the schools I really want to get to,” Baker said. “I keep saying I’m going to get there, but it hasn’t fit into my plans yet. I’m definitely going to try to get there.”
When it comes to relationships Baker has with the coaches who are recruiting him, he is the closest to three coaches, each from one of his top schools.
“I would have to say coach (D.J.) Durkin from Florida, coach Drayton, and coach Elder,” he stated. “Those three really stand out.”
At the beginning of his recruitment it was 50/50 as to whether he would end up playing running back or linebacker. However, as things currently stand it looks like he’ll end up playing linebacker.
“A few of the schools always throw it in that if I want to play running back, then I could play running back too,” he continued. “I’m just waiting to see if my body grows a little bit more and how my body type is. It’s a little more linebacker talk at most of the schools.”
Even though running backs have the ball in their hands quite a bit more, Baker is leaning towards linebacker because he feels he can have a longer career playing there.
“I really don’t care, but as far as lasting long, linebackers last the longest and I want to last long, so I’m leaning towards linebacker right now,” Baker admitted.
Though he’s not quite sure as to which schools he’ll be visiting this summer, LSU is one school he would like to see if his contact with the Tigers picks up.
“One school that I haven’t really talked to, but I get mail from is LSU,” Baker said. “I’ve always been interested in them, but I haven’t spoken on the phone with them yet. If I had the chance I would like to visit LSU. That’s probably one schools I would like to get to.”
Right now Baker can confidently say three schools will get officials, but is unsure of the other two.
“Yes, all five,” he stated. “Ohio State, Tennessee, and Florida. Those three will definitely get official visits. The last two is pretty open.”
When he goes on his college visits, there are a couple of things he’s looking for on the campuses.
“Just the atmosphere. That’s a major thing,” he continued. “Also how I feel when I’m in the buildings and talking to the people. When I chose my high school, I walked into the building and thought, ‘this is home’. I’m looking for that same feeling when I pick a college. I want to make sure I’m at home and not just at school.”
During the offseason there are a couple of things Baker is working at in order to improve his game and get ready for college.
“I would probably say my speed. The game is getting a lot faster, so I want to get faster. So I’m working on my speed and quickness,” Baker said. “I’m also focused on using my talents to help my teammates get better. As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized your only as good as your weakest link, so I want to get my team better overall and when they get better, they’ll get me better. That’s definitely a big thing for me in the offseason.”
