ncsufan13
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Great news for the pack! Tony Baker will be allowed to come back next year and continue playing running back for NC State. This is pretty important given the youth of our other running backs, having Baker back for another year will add consistency to our offense and hopefully give him more time to recover and develop to impress NFL scouts.
OWNAS
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
He has been a beast this year. Glad he is (probably) coming back
JKL
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
It's been a while since something has "bounced" our way... maybe this is the turning point :)haha
Go Pack
FunPack
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Excellent news. Give 'em hell, TB.
ruffles31
Administrator
Posted 8 months ago
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I am STUNNED that Baker was given a 6th year. Doesn't the NCAA know that he plays for the Wolfpack? Seriously, congrats to Baker. We look forward to him playing even better (and he has played well this year) next year.
ruffles31
Administrator
Posted 8 months ago
#
Man, where was that lenient NCAA when I needed it?
Regards,
Al Pinkins
PackerInRussia
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
What are the thoughts on his NFL-readiness. Is he ready for the next step? Will he take it after this year? I'm certainly glad that he was given a 6th year. He's definitely a bright spot on the team; hard-working, productive player.
Baker is not 100% sure that he is coming back even though he has been granted the 6th year.
Daily Update
Administrator
Posted 8 months ago
#
Getting the 6th year was never in doubt no matter where Baker attended school. The rules for 6th years are cut and dry with the NCAA. They don't give a damn what college the player attends.
I don't remember the details of the Pinkins situations, but I promise it wasn't similar.
Noah
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
NFL? Really? Is there a big market for fairly slow, straight ahead runners with a history of knee troubles? Is that why TA McLendon is still playing?
Baker's a powerful runner, but he has no shiftiness. I still think he'd be better suited to play FB.
Broccoman
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Is Irving coming back next year? Is he eligible to?
Noah
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Yes. irving would have been a junior this year, right?
StateofthePack
Member
Posted 8 months ago
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Correct. Next year Irving will be a redshirt senior.
GoldenChain
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Statefans, Baker is the one who filled out the paperwork so I imagine that while maybe not 100% he's pretty certain.
http://obsfifty.blogspot.com/2009/11/ncaa-grants-baker-sixth-season.html
Baker missed all but one game over two seasons because of a knee injury before returning this season for the Wolfpack. Getting the extra year doesn't guarantee that Baker will return, though, because there is a chance he will enter the NFL draft after this season."After the season I will talk to my family and Coach O'Brien and all these guys, and we'll figure out what's best for me," Baker said after practice Wednesday, before the sixth year was granted.
McPete
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
If Baker finds out he may be drafted after doing some homework, he might decide to leave. But how many think he'll actually get drafted?
I think he'll be back, which is a good thing. He's the best running back on the roster. No way he'd move to fullback while he's here.
GoldenChain
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
From the link in post #1:
"It is something I would like to have," Baker said earlier in the week, talking about the sixth year of eligibility. "That's why we filled out all the paper work and sent it off. I would be happy for it to happen. It will be nice to have the option to come back."
And hey, maybe you're right. If he could get signed and make some jack then OK. The problem is he has only one season (this one) since being hurt bad so he would certainly improve his stock if he could get a second solid season.
Noah
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
He's the best running back on the roster. No way he'd move to fullback while he's here.
Which isn't saying anything. I think he'd be extremely effective as a FB. Short yardage guy, catching the ball out of the backfield, and leading the way for Eugene and Barnes.
packalum44
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Comparing TA to TB is almost as silly as the McGrady/Majic comparison.
packalum44
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Noah you seem to have some bias against Baker. Not sure what you see but I see a damn good running back who is very hard to bring down. He'll play in the NFL, as did his father. I think he'd be a great fit with Phillip in San Diego.
Trout
I miss Wolfchat
Posted 8 months ago
#
We found out that my sixth year of eligibility was approved this week, which is great. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet, but I’m glad to have the option to come back.
McPete
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Baker is 6th in the ACC in rushing and averaging 5 yards per carry. If Eugene was better, he'd get more carries. If Barnes was better, he wouldn't have been 4th on the depth chart.
He's exactly the kind of running back TOB wants, a physical runner who doesn't lose a ton yards ever and is tough to bring down.
jaybird80
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
I wonder what would sway TB one way or another? Certainly a "guarantee" of some sort to go in the 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd round would be tough to turn down. After the 3rd though, I don't know. Might be worth the chance then to come back. Certainly we will have some fairly high profile games next year: Cincy, UCF, the regular ACC guys and, oh yeah, ECTC. I do wish him the best regardless.
GOOD LUCK TB!!!
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