Versatile Washington Athlete Justin Baker Commits to Cal

The Bears had been courting speedy Washington athlete Justin Baker for months and tonight, the versatile Baker made the call for Cal.

Baker announced his commitment by tweeting, “A dream come true.” #Committed. 1 Kings 8:61

5-10/175 Kennedy Catholic (Burien, WA) athlete Justin Baker has been high on the Bears’ radar for a while, and the interest was mutual throughout the recruiting process

“I’ve been following Cal for a while,” said Baker earlier. “I’m really excited about Cal. I always knew they were a really good school and I always wanted to go to school in California since I was young. It always seemed like a really good place for me and my dad is really big on academics. Both my parents are.”

Cal running backs coach Nick Edwards has been Baker’s main point of contact for the Bears after switching from receivers coach.

“It’s been really good,” said Baker earlier of his relationship with the Cal staff. “The main person I’ve been talking to is Coach Edwards. He’s super cool. He’s one of the first coaches that talked to me about more than just football. We have conversations on the phone and he asks how I’m doing, my personal life, what I like to do outside school and stuff like that. So I thought it was super cool that he can relate to me like that. It’s a lot different type of relationship with a young coach like him.”

“Justin is a playmaker,” said Baker’s trainer Reggie Ford with FSP Sports, who played for Cal OC Beau Baldwin 15 years ago at Eastern Washington. “His nickname on the team is touchdown-maker. He is a high energy guy that is explosive and can get to top speed in 2-3 steps. He will always make the first guy miss and is a threat to score from anywhere on the field at any time. 

“He is a naturally-gifted athlete who can legit play running back or receiver in college and helps immediately in the return game, either kick or punt return, or simply as an offensive weapon.

“I have coached him at FSP since 8th grade and I coach him in the fall at Kennedy, so I have a great perspective of his growth and high ceiling

“Off the field, he is a humble hard working kid in all aspects. He’s even is up for student body president for his upcoming senior year. He is always helping In the community and has great family, with great morals and athletic pedigree. You don’t get much higher character than him. He is a captain of the team and is a alpha dog and will never be outworked. He’s one of the hardest-working kids I have ever coached. He’s fun to be around and all his classmates and teammates love him.

“You guys truly got one of the best of the best from our state, on and off the field. He’s an awesome and exceptional athlete but even a better young man.”

The speedy Baker had 17 TDs and 1,553 total yards as a junior. He also had offers from Colorado, Arizona, Oregon State, Boise State, and Nebraska among others.