Brandon Baker Closing in on Commitment as Senior Season Kicks Off
When you're talking about elite offensive linemen, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei offensive tackle Brandon Baker has to be in the conversation.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound lineman opened the 2023 season with a win over Corona Centennial on Friday night and helped pave the way for elite running backs Jordon Davison and Nate Frazier.
There's been a lot of chatter about Baker's recruitment in recent weeks and he clarified where he's at with the process.
"I'd say looking to slim it down within the next week or so," he said. "Planning on releasing a top five."
When I spoke with Baker in the spring, it looked like he was destined for a signing day decision in December, but now it sounds like his timeline has changed.
"Sometime between September and October. That's what it's looking like right now."
The standout tackle, who seemed like he may have been on the verge of a verbal commitment last fall, noted that he wanted to slow down his recruitment because more teams have gotten involved.
A select group of schools have had the most contact recently.
"Right now it's Texas, Ohio State, Oregon and Nebraska. Tennesse as well," Baker said.
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He only has one trip scheduled and it's an official visit with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on September 16 when they face the Northern Illinois Huskies.
The Mater Dei product is feeling drawn to Lincoln largely because of the momentum Matt Rhule has generated since taking over the program.
"It's a great program. Coach Rhule, I feel like he's definitely gonna turn it around this season," Baker said. "I've seen the things he did at Temple and Baylor, so I had to check it out one more time for sure."
The Texas Longhorns are in the thick of his recruitment ahead of their move to the SEC in 2024.
"I'd say it's definitely one of the schools that I'm heavily looking at at the moment. Coach (Steve) Sarkisian, a West Coast guy. They have Coach (Kyle) Flood down there. He was down at Alabama.
"So really just kind of see how they go throughout the season. First game they got a big one. That'll probably be the first test."
Baker has long been viewed on the national recruiting scene as an Oregon lean, but he hasn't taken an official visit with the Ducks.
"I'm really just kind of playing it by ear," he said of an Oregon official visit. "The plan was really kind of have them be the last official. See what I'm feeling throughout the timeline, just go from there."
The top offensive lineman on the West Coast still has daily contact with coach A'lique Terry and spoke about his interest in the Ducks.
"Yeah (I'm) still pretty interested in them. I kind of have to see how it's looking in season to possibly go down to some games."
What does he need to do to between now and making his commitment?
"I would say really just praying about it. Sitting on it. Seeing what feels right."
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