Joshua Stevenson Baker (born December 25, 1986[1]) is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Northwest Missouri State and the University of Delaware. He played high school football at Western Branch High School.
 Baker during the 2011 NFL season. | |||||||
| No. 45 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tight end | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | December 25, 1986 Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 244 lb (111 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Chesapeake (VA) Western Branch | ||||||
| College: | Northwest Missouri State | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 2011 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
| |||||||
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||
College career edit
Baker began his college career at the University of Delaware in 2005. Although among the team's top scout team players, Baker did not participate in a formal match-up that year.[2] In 2006, he was named the Blue Hens' third string tight end appearing in ten games in a back-up role primarily on running plays and special teams. Baker recorded one catch for no yards and had a 14-yard kickoff return.[2] In 2007, Baker was named the second string tight end and ranked sixth on the team in receiving, totaling 20 catches for 344 yards and 2 touchdowns.[2] In 2008, Baker was suspended from the team for a year after violating the school's three strike policy which included incidents such as underage drinking and having a lit candle in his dorm room.[3]
Baker went to live with his father in Waco, Texas, where he attended Collin County Community College and worked at an OfficeMax earning $9.00 an hour, which went toward his community college fees.[3] He also worked with a professional trainer to stay in shape.[4] Delaware retained Baker's athletic scholarship and he returned for his redshirt senior season in 2009.[3] Baker tore multiple knee ligaments in the first quarter of the Blue Hens' first game of the year, ending his season.[4]
Baker was denied a medical redshirt and transferred to Division II Northwest Missouri State.[4] Baker had 66 catches for 838 yards and a touchdown, and 3 rushing touchdowns for Missouri in 2010 and was named to the Associated Press' Little All-America Team.[3][5]
Professional career edit
New York Jets edit
The New York Jets signed Baker as an undrafted free agent on July 27, 2011.[6] To meet the roster requirement, Baker was waived by the Jets on September 3.[7] He was signed to the team's practice squad a day later.[8] Baker was called up to the active roster on September 27, 2011, following a season-ending injury to tight end Jeff Cumberland.[9] On December 24, 2011, he caught his first career touchdown against the New York Giants.[10] In 11 games of 2011, Baker made 3 receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown. He also returned 3 punts for 60 return yards.
Baker suffered a severe knee injury on August 26, 2012 and was placed on the team's injured reserve list the following day.[11] He was waived by the Jets on February 19, 2013.[12]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers edit
Baker signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 1, 2014. He was waived by the Bucs on May 12, 2014.
References edit
- ^ "Josh Baker". Northwest Missouri State University Athletics. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Josh Baker". University of Delaware Athletics. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Dyer, Kristian (June 15, 2012). "Josh Baker's 'long, crazy journey' to Jets". Metro New York. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c Cimini, Rich (August 29, 2011). "Long shots: Undrafted and undeterred". ESPN New York. Archived from the original on December 4, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ "Three Bearcats earn AP All-America honors". Northwest Missouri State University Athletics. December 17, 2010. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ Cimini, Rich (July 27, 2011). "Jets announce UDFA class". ESPN New York. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ Mehta, Manish (September 3, 2011). "Jets trim roster to 53; make two trades". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ Vrentas, Jenny (September 4, 2011). "Jets awarded four players off waivers, including QB Kevin O'Connell; cut Aaron Maybin". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ Jets Media Relations Department (September 27, 2011). "Baker to Active Roster, Cumberland, Turner to IR". New York Jets. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
- ^ Orr, Conor (July 11, 2012). "Jets summer Q&A with fullback/tight end Josh Baker". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ Vrentas, Jenny (August 27, 2012). "Jets waive/injured Josh Baker, trim roster to 74". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
- ^ Lange, Randy (February 19, 2013). "Five Are Gone, but 'They'll Always Be Jets'". New York Jets. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.