The Bears picked up their first addition of their 2027 class today with the commitment of 1st team Utah all-state MLB Broncs Baker.
"Day 1 of the ncaa contact period (last year), Coach Sirmon was at my high school at 8:00 am," Baker said. "He wanted Cal to be the first to offer me. He told me my style of play would be unstoppable in that Cal defense. It was my first offer. Other offers came that week, but the first is always special. I started having communication with Coach Sirmon and Coach Bruno from then on.
"The game day visit was special. The campus, the weather, the student section was wild. My family and I felt a connection to the campus, can’t really explain it.
"Cal linebackers always seem to play in space and always seem to play fast. I’ve talked shop with Coach Bruno several times. What he preaches, I do very naturally. Cal also has a lot of juice right now. They are getting a lot of love nationally, and I think that will only get bigger.
"Coach Bruno, teaches technique and doesn’t burden his LBs with too much information. They like to seek and destroy. That’s also my game."
The 6-1/215 Stansbury HS (Stansbury Park, UT) MLB took an unofficial visit to Cal to take in the Bears' 35-3 home opener victory over Texas Southern and came away sounding like a future Bear.
“Cal was amazing, my family loved everything about it,” Baker said. “Things that stood out: the defensive unit! It was fun to watch them fly around, especially those linebackers. After the game we were able to talk with coach Bruno and discuss the play of the LBs. The California weather was also unbelievable and the whole vibe was just awesome.
“That student section was bringing energy. It would be fun to play in front of that passion and chaos. Sign me up!”
Two weeks later, the junior MLB pulled the trigger for Cal.
As a sophomore, Baker totaled 82 tackles, 2 sacks and an interception and is off to a strong junior season start with 44 tackles, 9 tfl and 2 sacks.
The #10 rated player in Utah also holds offers from Arizona State and Kansas State.
