Darrell Baker Jr.
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Darrell Baker Jr.
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Tennessee Titans
| number = 39
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|3|27}}
| birth_place = Panama City, Panama
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 190
| high_school = Hephzibah (GA)
| college = Georgia Southern (2016–2021)
| undraftedyear = 2022
| pastteams =
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2022}}–{{NFL Year|2023}})
- Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 75
| statlabel2 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Pass deflections
| statvalue4 = 12
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 =
| highlights =
| pfr = BakeDa02
}}
Darrell Megail Baker Jr. (born March 27, 1998) is a Panamanian-American professional football cornerback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Panama City, he grew up in Hephzibah, Georgia, and played college football for the Georgia Southern Eagles. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in {{NFL Year|2022}}.
Early life
Baker was born on March 27, 1998, in Panama City, to two United States Army veterans.{{Cite web |title=Darrell Baker Jr. |url=https://gseagles.com/sports/football/roster/darrell-baker-jr-/4572 |access-date=August 17, 2024 |publisher=Georgia Southern Eagles}} He was raised in Hephzibah, Georgia,{{Cite web |title=Darrell Baker Jr. |url=https://www.colts.com/team/players-roster/darrell-baker-jr/ |access-date=August 17, 2024 |publisher=Indianapolis Colts}} and attended Hephzibah High School, where he participated in football and track and field, playing as a cornerback and wide receiver in the former.{{Cite web |title=Darrell Baker |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Darrell-Baker-84451/high-school-146068/ |access-date=August 17, 2024 |publisher=247Sports}} As a junior in football, he made several key plays in their regular season finale to help them reach the state playoffs, being named The Augusta Chronicle player of the week.{{Cite news |last=Staats |first=Wayne |date=November 13, 2014 |title=Darrell Baker's big plays boost Hephzibah to nab honor |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2014/11/14/darrell-bakers-big-plays-boost-hephzibah-nab-honor/14389402007/ |access-date=August 17, 2024 |work=The Augusta Chronicle}} As a senior in track, Baker won the state championship in the long jump and was named "Boys' track athlete of the year" by the Chronicle.{{Cite news |last=Staats |first=Wayne |date=June 9, 2016 |title=Hepzhzibah's Darrell Baker goes out on top in long jump |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/06/10/hepzhzibahs-darrell-baker-goes-out-top-long-jump/14289672007/ |access-date=August 17, 2024 |work=The Augusta Chronicle}}
Baker began attending Georgia Southern University in 2016, and was a walk-on member of their football team. He spent his true freshman season as a redshirt. In 2017, his second year with the program, he played in 12 games, appearing on 377 snaps, and recorded 18 tackles and one interception along with a forced fumble. The following season, Baker appeared in nine matches and recorded six tackles and one interception, while appearing on 231 plays.
As a junior in 2019, Baker played in all 12 games and started three, recording two pass breakups as well as 23 tackles, while seeing action on a total of 280 snaps. He saw his first action as a full-time starter in 2020,{{Cite news |last=Aubrey |first=Josh |date=April 3, 2021 |title=Sixth-year seniors getting one more shot |url=https://www.statesboroherald.com/sports/georgia-southern-eagles/sixth-year-seniors-getting-one-more-shot/ |access-date=August 17, 2024 |work=Statesboro Herald}} starting all 12 games and posting 34 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception. Baker was named third-team all-conference at the end of the season by Pro Football Focus (PFF).
After receiving an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Baker opted to return to Georgia Southern for a sixth season in 2021. He started eight games and appeared in a total of 10, and tallied while playing 499 snaps 32 tackles, eight pass breakups{{Cite magazine |date=January 29, 2022 |title=NFL Draft Profile: Darrell Baker Jr., Cornerback, Georgia Southern Eagles |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/darrellbakerjr |access-date=August 17, 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} and a forced fumble. He finished his college career with 111 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 18 pass breakups.{{Cite web |last=Sulkowski |first=Frank |date=May 1, 2022 |title=Georgia Southern's Darrell Baker Jr. signs with Arizona Cardinals |url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/georgia-southerns-darrell-baker-jr-signs-with-arizona-cardinals/39870603 |access-date=August 17, 2024 |publisher=WJCL}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 7/8
| weight = 190
| dash = 4.43
| ten split = 1.53
| twenty split = 2.50
| shuttle = 4.25
| cone drill = 7.07
| vertical = 41.5
| broad ft = 11
| broad in = 4
| bench = 11
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 8 3/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2022 NFL Draft Scout Darrell Baker Jr. College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=131533&DraftYear=2022 |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Baker was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on August 29, during the roster cuts period.{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Sam |date=August 29, 2022 |title=Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/22 |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2022/08/minor-nfl-transactions-8-29-22 |access-date=August 17, 2024 |website=Pro Football Rumors}} After being waived by Arizona, Baker had tryouts with the Green Bay Packers{{Cite web |last=Mosqueda |first=Justis |date=September 6, 2022 |title=Green Bay Packers work out 4 on Tuesday |url=https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2022/9/6/23340063/green-bay-packers-work-out-4-on-tuesday |access-date=August 17, 2024 |website=Acme Packing Company |agency=SB Nation}} and Indianapolis Colts.{{Cite web |last=Schultheis |first=Luke |date=September 13, 2022 |title=Colts Worked Out Eight Players on Monday |url=https://www.stampedeblue.com/2022/9/13/23350400/colts-worked-out-eight-players-on-monday |access-date=August 17, 2024 |website=Stampede Blue |agency=SB Nation}}
=Indianapolis Colts=
Baker was signed to the Colts' practice squad on September 13, 2022.{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2022 |title=Colts Sign CB Tony Brown To 53-Man Roster, Waive K Rodrigo Blankenship; Sign CB Darrell Baker Jr., S Henry Black, K Lucas Havrisik, K Chase McLaughlin To Practice Squad |url=https://www.colts.com/news/rodrigo-blankenship-waived-tony-brown-signed-practice-squad-kicker-roster-moves |access-date=August 17, 2024 |publisher=Indianapolis Colts}} He was elevated to the active roster for their Week 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings,{{Cite web |last=Thomison |first=Andrew |date=December 17, 2022 |title=Report: Colts Elevate LB Forrest Rhyne, CB Darrell Baker Jr. To Active Roster For Game Against Vikings |url=https://www.stampedeblue.com/2022/12/17/23514072/report-colts-elevate-lb-forrest-rhyne-cb-darrell-baker-jr-to-active-roster-for-game-against-vikings |access-date=August 17, 2024 |website=Stampede Blue |agency=SB Nation}} and made his NFL debut in the 39–36 loss, appearing on 14 special teams snaps.{{Cite web |title=Darrell Baker Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BakeDa02.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was signed to the active roster on December 28.{{Cite web |date=December 28, 2022 |title=Colts Place CB Isaiah Rodgers Sr. On Injured Reserve, Sign CB Darrell Baker Jr. To 53-Man Roster From Practice Squad, Sign CB David Vereen To Practice Squad |url=https://www.colts.com/news/isaiah-rodgers-cb-injured-reserve-cornerback-darrell-baker-transactions |access-date=August 17, 2024 |website=Colts.com}} Baker recovered a fumble in the Colts' Week 18 game against the Houston Texans.
Baker made the Colts final roster in 2023, playing in 14 games with six starts and finished second on the team in pass breakups.{{Cite web |title=Darrell Baker 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BakeDa02/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=July 23, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On January 8, 2024, Baker signed a one-year contract extension with the Colts.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Colts sign 9 to reserve/future contracts, 4 to one-year contract extensions, waive CB Tony Brown |url=https://www.colts.com/news/colts-sign-9-to-reserve-future-contracts-4-to-one-year-contract-extensions-waive |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Colts.com}} On August 28, 2024, Baker was waived by the Colts.{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2024 |title= Colts claim CB Samuel Womack III off waivers; waive CB Darrell Baker Jr. |url= https://www.colts.com/news/samuel-womack-waiver-claim-san-francisco-49ers-darrell-baker-junior-waived-roster-moves |access-date=August 28, 2024|website=Colts.com}}
=Tennessee Titans=
On August 29, 2024, Baker was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans.{{cite web|title=Titans Claim Former Colts CB Darrell Baker Jr. Off Waivers|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-claim-former-colts-cb-darrell-baker-jr-off-waivers|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=August 29, 2024}} He played all 17 games during the 2024 season, including nine starts. He finished with 40 tackles and five pass deflections.{{Cite web |title=Darrell Baker 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BakeDa02/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=Jan 8, 2025 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On March 11, 2025, Baker signed a one-year contract extension with the Titans.{{cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Jim |title=Titans Agree to Terms on Contract With CB Darrell Baker Jr. |website=TennesseeTitans.com |date=Mar 11, 2025 |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-on-contract-with-cb-darrell-baker |access-date=Mar 11, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|yahoo=34302}}
- [https://www.colts.com/team/players-roster/darrell-baker-jr/ Indianapolis Colts bio]
- [https://gseagles.com/sports/football/roster/darrell-baker-jr-/4572 Georgia Southern Eagles bio]
{{Tennessee Titans roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Darrell, Jr.}}
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Panamanian players of American football
Category:Players of American football from Richmond County, Georgia
Category:Sportspeople from Panama City
Category:People from Hephzibah, Georgia
Category:Georgia Southern Eagles football players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players