Tag: Blake Baker

Report: LSU has identified a leading candidate for defensive coordinator position

LSU may already be zeroing in on a candidate for its open defensive coordinator position.

LSU is now searching for coordinators on both sides of the ball after coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] fired most of the on-field defensive staff on Wednesday.

The Tigers parted ways with defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag] as well as assistants [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag]. House’s unit took a major step back in 2023, finishing in the bottom half of the FBS by most metrics.

Kelly now faces a crucial hire heading into Year 3, and it seems he may have found his guy. Missouri defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] has already emerged as a leading candidate, according to Brandon Marcello and Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

Baker orchestrated one of the better defenses in the SEC in 2023, ranking fourth in the league in yards per game while having the No. 6 scoring defense. That unit played a large part in an 11-win campaign for the Tigers that culminated in a Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State.

He has clear ties to the state of Louisiana, serving as LSU’s linebackers coach in 2021 under Ed Orgeron before spending the last two seasons in Columbia. Baker also was an assistant at Louisiana Tech from 2014-18, where he was the defensive coordinator his last four seasons.

Baker also served as the defensive coordinator at Miami from 2019-20, and he signed an extension with Missouri last month that made him one of the SEC’s highest-paid assistants.

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Mekhi Wingo excited to face his former team in Missouri

Mekhi Wingo is ready to face his former team this October.

[autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] became one of LSU’s best players last fall after transferring from Missouri.

This season, he’ll get head back to his home state to face his former team when LSU and Missouri face on Oct. 7.

When asked if the game had any extra meeting, Wingo said “definitely.”

“I love to come back and play in front of my home crowd,” Wingo said. “Just giving those family members an opportunity to come to a game they may not be able to make it down to in Baton Rouge. I’m definitely gonna need a lot of tickets for that game.”

Wingo said the relationship with his former teammates is still all love and he even got the chance to see some at media days with Missouri’s session later that day.

“It’s gonna be fun seeing my old teammates and my old coaches because I definitely still have that bond and connection with those guys,” he said.

For LSU cornerbacks coach [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag], who played a large role in recruiting Wingo, it’ll be a chance to coach in the state where he cut his teeth as a high school coach.

Missouri will have some LSU connections on their sideline too. Defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] was LSU’s linebackers coach in 2021.

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Missouri hires LSU’s former linebacker coach Blake Baker

Blake Baker heads to Missouri to coach the safety position.

Former LSU linebackers coach Blake Baker will now coach Safeties at Missouri for the Tigers. Baker joined LSU’s coaching staff last year. Before that, Baker was the defensive coordinator at the University of Miami for two years. Baker was also was the defensive coordinator at Louisianan Tech.

Baker was key to the success of Tigers linebacker Damone Clark. The linebacker career at LSU started slowly until coach baker joined the staff. Baker did an excellent job getting Clark to play fast trusting his instincts and skill set. Another critical component was paying attention to detail.

Under Baker’s teachings, Clark had the best season as a Tiger. Clark finished the season with 135 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and one interception. Under Baker, Clark played very aggressively and fast, and it paid off. With his play, Clark shot up many scouts’ draft boards. He is now the No. 5 rated inside linebacker on Mel Kiper’s Jr. player rankings.

Under Baker, Missouri safeties will play aggressively. He comes from the Manny Diaz coaching tree; like Diaz, he believes in an aggressive, attacking style of defense that will put opposing offenses in uncomfortable situations. So look for Missouri safeties to fly all over the field, looking to make plays.

Harold Perkins commits to Texas A&M over LSU and Texas

Harold Perkins opts for Texas A&M over LSU, Texas as expected.

Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M added to their five-star laden class on Sunday when linebacker Harold Perkins choose the Aggies over LSU and Texas.

The 247Sports composite rankings have Perkins as the top linebacker in the country as well as the top player in Texas. He’s the sixth five-star to join Texas A&M’s class and the third top 10 recruit.

To an extent, LSU was in this the entire race. But with all the coaching turnover and instability the last two years, it was never that likely Perkins ended up at LSU.

LSU will have an entirely new defensive staff in 2022 and Perkins didn’t even know what that was going to look like until just last week. Blake Baker, who served as LSU’s linebacker coach and Perkins’ primary recruiter, announced a couple of weeks ago that he would not be returning to LSU.

Perkins took an unofficial to LSU on November 27th, the weekend LSU just happened to be facing Texas A&M. He also took an unofficial to Baton Rouge last June.

LSU could have used Perkins’ services after some inconsistency at linebacker the last couple years. Landing Perkins would have been a monumental splash for Brian Kelly and LSU, but the miss is understandable given the circumstances.

Linebacker coach Blake Baker bids farewell on Twitter

Another assistant announces his time in Baton Rouge has come to an end.

It appears that another assistant’s time has come to an end in Baton Rouge. Current linebackers coach Blake Baker tweeted out his goodbye to the Tiger faithful on Saturday afternoon.

Forever grateful for our time here in Baton Rouge. The opportunity to coach here was a dream come true. LSU will always be a special place for me and my family for so many reasons. We can’t say “Thank You” enough to all the people that played a part in making our experience such a memorable one. To the guys in the locker room, I will always cherish and appreciate the relationships we have built. Saying good to y’all is always the hardest – Baker on Twitter

During his one season in Death Valley, Damone Clark had a season for the ages. He is currently ranked No. 2 in the country for total tackles. He was a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award and named second-team All-American by the Sporting News.

Baker joined the LSU staff in 2021 after two seasons in Miami as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. After playing linebacker for Tulane from 2000-04, Baker returned to The Boot with Louisiana Tech in 2014-2018.

There was speculation that he might join the SMU Mustangs staff under new head coach Rhett Ashlee. Thus far only Brad Davis has been retained from the 2020 staff under Ed Orgeron.

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LSU battling it out with Texas, Texas A&M for five-star linebacker

Top linebacker in Texas has LSU among his top 3.

There is a better than likely chance that the LSU Tigers could lose four-star linebacker commit Demario Tolan to the Georgia Bulldogs when the early signing period approaches. Tolan has taken multiple trips to Athen and with the uncertainty surrounding the head coach vacancy, it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise.

However, perhaps LSU could be getting some good news on the recruiting front? On Thursday the highly coveted five-star linebacker Harold Perkins released his top three schools. He plans on committing on Jan. 2, 2022, and signing in February on National Signing Day.

Perkins is down to LSU, Texas, and Texas A&M. Blake Baker is hoping to close the deal for the No. 2 linebacker in the country and No. 2 player in the state of Texas according to 247Sports composite rankings. Perkins can be an instant impact linebacker and could be the next top player at the position in a long line of big-time linebackers.

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Charles Powers of On3 gave a rave review for Perkins:

“He’s one of the best run and hit linebacker prospects in the last handful of classes,” Power said. “He makes big plays on both sides of the ball. Ability to chase plays from the weak-side with ease and fluidity. He’s shown improvement in taking on blocks and blowing up offensive linemen is evident on senior video. He has also improved in timing blitzes.”

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Report: LSU finalizing deal with Blake Baker to coach linebackers

Ed Orgeron’s defensive coaching staff is coming together.

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said days ago that he wanted to fill out the defensive coaching staff by “next Tuesday” and he’s on his way to doing just that.

Soon after hiring Daronte Jones at defensive coordinator, LSU is reportedly finalizing a deal with Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker to become the team’s linebackers coach, according to Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger.

According to the report, Baker’s responsibilities in Baton Rouge could extend beyond just the linebackers room.

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Over a pair of seasons in Miami at his current position, the Hurricanes have ranked No. 23 and No. 51 in defense. If he can bring a similar or better situation to LSU, the Tigers should be set to be in good shape after last year’s lackluster performance under Bo Pelini.

Orgeron has a player-first mentality in all the moves he’s made as the Tigers aim to return to their former glory.

“When I look at a candidate, I want to see how the players are going to feel,” he said. “Number one. Is he going to be able to connect to the players. That’s one of the most important things as a coach.”

Among LSU’s other recent hires are offensive coordinator Jake Peetz and passing game coordinator DJ Mangas.

LSU is still looking to fill a position at defensive line coach, and it will be interesting to see how that shakes out.

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Report: LSU finalizing deal with Blake Baker to coach linebackers

Ed Orgeron’s defensive coaching staff is coming together.

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said days ago that he wanted to fill out the defensive coaching staff by “next Tuesday” and he’s on his way to doing just that.

Soon after hiring Daronte Jones at defensive coordinator, LSU is reportedly finalizing a deal with Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker to become the team’s linebackers coach, according to Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger.

According to the report, Baker’s responsibilities in Baton Rouge could extend beyond just the linebackers room.

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Over a pair of seasons in Miami at his current position, the Hurricanes have ranked No. 23 and No. 51 in defense. If he can bring a similar or better situation to LSU, the Tigers should be set to be in good shape after last year’s lackluster performance under Bo Pelini.

Orgeron has a player-first mentality in all the moves he’s made as the Tigers aim to return to their former glory.

“When I look at a candidate, I want to see how the players are going to feel,” he said. “Number one. Is he going to be able to connect to the players. That’s one of the most important things as a coach.”

Among LSU’s other recent hires are offensive coordinator Jake Peetz and passing game coordinator DJ Mangas.

LSU is still looking to fill a position at defensive line coach, and it will be interesting to see how that shakes out.

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