Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker has been excellent producing NFL talent. In four of his five seasons as a defensive coordinator at the FBS level, Baker has had a player drafted.
Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker has proven he can develop players to get them ready for the NFL Draft. In his five seasons as a defensive coordinator at the FBS level, seven of Baker’s former players have been drafted. The 2020 NFL Draft had four former Baker protegés selected in the NFL Draft.
Miami Hurricanes linebacker Shaq Quarterman was chosen in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars and defensive end Jonathan Garvin was selected in the seventh round by the Green Bay Packers. Before being hired as the Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator, Baker was the DC at Louisiana Tech.
Baker was brought to Miami when Manny Diaz was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach. Baker had previously worked for Diaz as a graduate assistant at Texas in 2011 and 2012 and as the safeties coach at Louisiana Tech under Diaz in 2014. When Diaz left for Mississippi State Baker became the DC.
In his four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech, Baker had three players selected in the NFL Draft. Two Louisiana Tech defensive backs were chosen in the 2020 NFL Draft to bring the number of players that Baker coached who were selected in the NFL draft to five from Louisiana Tech and seven total.
Defensive lineman and defensive backs have seen the greatest development under the tutelage of Baker. Defensive tackle Vernon Butler was the first player selected in the NFL Draft after Baker was elevated to defensive coordinator. Butler had 50 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks for the Bulldogs in 2015.