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Ohio State football: Has Jerome Baker Earned a Starting Position?
Linebacker Jerome Baker has played extremely well for Ohio State.
The Ohio State defense has been lights out so far this year. A big part of that is due to the play of Jerome Baker. But Baker isn’t even the starter… Dante Booker is.
Dante Booker injured his knee and has been out for 4 weeks, giving Jerome Baker the opportunity to show what he’s got. Well he’s impressed everybody.
Baker has put up as stats almost just as good anybody on the defense. If you’ve watched any Ohio State game this year, there’s a good chance you’ve seen #17 fly towards the ball. Thanks to Baker’s speed, he is in on every single play.
The 6’1 sophomore is a big part of the reason as to why the Ohio State Buckeyes haven’t given up a rushing touchdown yet this year. Ohio State is the only team in America that can say that. Raekwon McMillan, Jerome Baker and Chris Worley have been incredible at the linebacker position for the Silver Bullets.
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As a recruit, Jerome Baker was a 4-star running-back. He signed to Ohio State with the 2015 class after earning offers from schools like Florida, Georgia, Florida State, Miami (FL), Louisville, TTUN, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Not a bad list. As a kid from Cleveland, the Buckeyes always seemed to be the favorite to land Jerome Baker.
After a year in the wings, Baker is finally getting his chance to show why he was such a highly touted recruit. So far this year he’s got 20.5 tackles, 3.5 TFL, an interception, and a TD. You could say he’s making the most of his opportunity.
On Monday Co-DC Greg Schiano described Jerome Baker as a “Very gifted guy.” I think this is becoming quite evident as we see more and more of him.
When Dante Booker returns, Baker may go back to being on the field for a limited amount of snaps. Or he may start. With Urban Meyer making the executive decision on this one, I’ll find a way to be okay with whatever decision he makes.
Either way, it’s good to know that the defense has even more depth than many thought and that the future of the Silver Bullets is in good hands.
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