He’s also one of the smoothest athletes at the position, with nice transitions and solid stickiness through the stem when working in man coverage. Baker plays with quick feet and a sense of urgency and competitiveness, whether covering from the slot or playing downhill. He flows well to the football when playing downhill and reads keys quickly when aligned over twins/trips looks.

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• Baker is athletic, demonstrates great vision and anticipates at a very high level.
• Man Coverage Skill Set: College Coaches focus on athletic ability to back pedal with smooth hip turns & transitions, the ability to  ability to mirror routes, press coverage and fight to stay in phase with WR. Baker is very discipline with his eyes and is athletic to match the skill set of the WR during route development.
• Zone Coverage Skill set: College Coaches focus on route recognition, the ability to adjust to proper drop depth and discipline to read route releases & concepts. Baker demonstrates a very high Football IQ reading route concepts, WR body language and hip level change adjusting to the QB depth and upfield elbow and shoulder when anticipating route depth and location.

Baker, a 6-foot, 160-pound Defensive Back/Running Back, has been putting in the work this offseason as he prepares for high school ball in the fall at Oak Mountain High School. Also a wrestler, the multi-sport prospect has grown more than a few inches since last football season. Personally, I’m excited to see him live at our Prep Redzone Next Rising Prospect Camp in Georgia this spring. After wrapping up a great season on the mat, he’s participated in a handful of 7v7 events with his high school team where he’s been able to showcase his skills and talent. He has fluid hips, can mirror most Wide Receivers at the level and does a nice job staying in the hip-pocket of his receiver. Moreover, he has the “kill or be killed” wrestler’s mentality on the football field and it pays off for him. Him and fellow 2027 Prep Redzone Next National Watchlist athlete Ba’Roc Willis Ba’Roc Willis 6'3" | 225 lbs | EDGE Moody | 2027 State AL will make quite the one-two punch.

Despite a 3-7 season on the varsity level, there has to be a level of optimism around the Oak Mountain football program with eighth-graders like the previously mentioned Ba’Roc Willis Ba’Roc Willis 6'3" | 225 lbs | EDGE Moody | 2027 State AL and Kylan Baker Kylan Baker 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB State AL coming in next year. Baker is the lightning to Willis’ thunder in the backfield and looks like more natural back. Keep an eye on this duo.

Located in Birmingham, Alabama, Oak Mountain Middle School has the luxury of two very dominant 2027 prospects in their backfield. We’ve covered big Ba’Roc Willis Ba’Roc Willis 6'3" | 225 lbs | EDGE Moody | 2027 State AL a few times over the last year, a 6-foot-3, 207-pounder that punishes on both sides of the ball. However, making his debut on Prep Redzone Next is Kylan Baker Kylan Baker 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB State AL . Baker is a smooth 5-foot-9, 135-pound back who uses speed and quickness to slash defenses while Willis isn’t mowing them over.  Baker is a really fun prospect to watch run the ball, as he has elite balance and bounces off hits like a pinball. Offensively I see a lot of similarities in his game to former first round pick, Clemson great, and now Tigers Running Back coach, CJ Spiller. He also plays Linebacker on defense and is very quick blitzing up the middle.