Michigan State University Athletics
Baker Drafted By New York Jets
4/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
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April 20, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State's Chris Baker, the Spartans' career record-holder for receptions by a tight end with 133, has been selected by the New York Jets in the third round of the NFL Draft Saturday (April 20). Baker, who earned second-team All-America honors from the Football News as a senior, became the No. 23 pick in the third round and the No. 88 selection overall.
"I can't really explain how great this feels," Baker said. "When the phone rang in my apartment, I really couldn't believe it and then I saw my name come across the TV screen. I'm originally from New York City, so I'm looking forward to going back home to play professional football.
"I already have a good relationship with Jets' tight end Anthony Becht because we have the same agent. This is a good situation for me because I won't be expected to step into the starting lineup right away and I'll be able to learn from a veteran tight end.
"I hope to add another dimension to the Jets' passing game," he said. "I just want to contribute in any way that I can to help the Jets advance beyond the first round of the NFL playoffs."
A second-team All-Big Ten selection, Baker ranked third on the team in catches with 40 for 548 yards (13.7 avg.) and four touchdowns in 2001. He had a season-high seven receptions for 76 yards vs. Penn State, including a 2-yard TD toss from Jeff Smoker. With six catches for 76 yards vs. Minnesota, Baker broke the school's tight end mark previously held by Mark Brammer, who had 107 receptions from 1976-79. He caught five passes for a career-best 99 yards vs. Northwestern. Baker had a TD catch in each of the first two games in 2001 - a 9-yarder from Smoker vs. Central Michigan and a 6-yarder from Ryan Van Dyke vs. Notre Dame.
Baker, a 6-foot-3, 263-pounder from Saline, Mich., started 47 consecutive games for the Spartans and caught at least one pass in 24 straight games. He also ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in receptions (fourth with 133), receiving yards (11th with 1,705) and TD catches (tied for ninth with 13).
"Chris Baker's productivity as a tight end speaks for itself," Michigan State head coach Bobby Williams said. "What separates Chris from other tight ends is his big-play ability. He's such a valuable offensive weapon because he can catch and run. Chris is so fundamentally sound that he always has his hands in position to make the catch. He even makes the tough catches look easy. Chris has earned such a great reputation as a pass-catcher that his blocking ability is sometimes overlooked."
"Chris Baker is a guy that we like as a possible full-time tight end," New York Jets General Manager Terry Bradway said. "He's a big guy with good blocking skills who had more career catches than any tight end in this draft. We wanted to get a guy in here to complement Anthony Becht, and we think we got that guy in Chris Baker.
"Chris comes from a good football program. He's got excellent hands and I think he's got a good chance to contribute."
Baker, rated among the top players at his position by most draft experts, including ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli (No. 8), Pro Football Weekly's Joel Buchsbaum (No. 9) and ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. (No. 11), was the sixth tight end selected.
"Chris Baker went a little earlier than I had anticipated," Kiper said. "I had projected Baker to be a fifth-to-seventh round selection. Baker had a solid career at Michigan State. And he's got great athletic ability, just look at his measurables (4.8 40 time and 35-inch vertical)."
