Bluegrass Talent In Herds Backyard

It took Marshall running backs Coach Chris Barclay about as long to make a phone call and offer a scholarship as it did for Ashland Paul Blazer High School standout Quinton Baker to run a forty-yard dash.

Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, Baker is a local talent that is well aware of Marshall's recent success and storied program. "I've always been a Marshall fan because they're right in my back yard. Once they offered me and I started looking into the school, the more I realized how great of a school it really is," Baker stated.

Baker, who stars at running back for Paul Blazer High School, has only been to Marshall's campus once. He was impressed with the program's football facilities. "I attended a camp there last summer. We toured the locker room, weight room, and walked around the stadium. It is top notch in every way," he said.

Baker has scheduled an unofficial visit to Marshall next Tuesday (March 10th), but already has seen the coaches in action. "If you would have blindfolded me, I wouldn't have known whether I was at Alabama or Marshall with how hard the coaches were coaching us up. It's all business there," Baker added.

Baker, a one-time University of Kentucky commit, said recruiting has picked up for him since last month's "Best of the Midwest" combine where he ran a 4.29 forty-yard dash.

Marshall, Ball State, Kentucky, Ohio, and Eastern Kentucky have all extended scholarship offers to Baker, but his recruiting is really just getting started. "After de-committing from UK, I decided I was 100 percent open. Louisville, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Arkansas have all contacted my coach since I ran the 4.2 last month," Baker said.

Although it's early in the recruiting process, Baker has plans to get things in order by the end of the summer.

"I want to have my top three or four schools by the end of the summer and make a decision by the end of my senior season." Baker plans to make an early decision so he can enroll in the college of his choice next January. "I want to enroll early for spring practices so I can have a shot at getting a head start on the depth chart."

Baker's lead recruiter is running backs Coach Chris Barclay and the relationship they're building could go a long way in Baker's decision. "I talk to him basically every day so we're always talking about everything. One day it might be football and the next it could be school. I'm definitely feeling our relationship though," Baker said.

After Baker torched the stop watches last month at the combine, there was plenty of talk about his freakish speed, but it's the total package that is just insane to talk about.

Not only can Baker out run most defenses, but it's likely that he'll be able to run over a lot of them with his "bowling ball" physique.

Baker is listed at five feet, nine inches tall and weighs 190 pounds. Pair that with his 4.29 forty-yard dash speed, 38 inch vertical, and weight room stats (Bench -330, Squat - 415, and Power Clean - 305) and you have a wrecking ball with legs.

For as good of a player as Baker is, it seems as if he's that much of a better person. "I try to stay humble on the field and play with as much respect and sportsmanship as I can".

Baker carries a 3.6 GPA and is part of the National Honor Society. He recently took the ACT for the first time and is awaiting his score. He plans on studying business in college.

Off the field, Baker is your normal teenager. "I run track, hang out with my friends, workout, and play video games. Nobody can keep me off the scoreboard on FIFA," said Baker, "I'm a jokester for sure."

Josh Stowers is a contributor and moderator for HerdNation.com.