Jarrad Baker could have walked away from football after season-ending injuries in back-to-back seasons, but that’s not the type of person the UCF receiver is.
He doesn’t give up and, more importantly, he’s unwilling to let his family down.
The 5-foot-11 Baker signed with the Knights’ 2018 recruiting class after his time at Eau Gallie High, where he was a two-way player for the Commodores. He finished with 1,512 all-purpose yards as a rusher and receiver while accounting for 97 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 2 interceptions at cornerback, per maxpreps.com.
One game into his freshman season at UCF in 2019, he tore his anterior cruciate knee ligament. He tore his other ACL the following season, knocking him out of his sophomore year.
Missing two seasons were devastating blows to the wideout.
“I’ve never been a quitter,” said Baker. “I’ve never been someone who has ducked away from challenges. I wake up daily, work hard and grind. Wherever my cards fall, that’s where they fall.”
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Baker didn’t need much to motivate himself during those long, grueling days of rehabilitation. He only had to look close to home.
“I’ve got two younger sisters at home and they depend on me,” said Baker. “My mom passed away and my dad … he wasn’t really in the picture, so I’ve been raising my two sisters since 10th grade. I’m kind of their father figure.”
His sisters — Jada and Janae — are all the inspiration Baker has needed as he battled his way back to the football field. He chose UCF over Arizona State, Baylor, Iowa State and Missouri.
“They kind of was a big reason for me staying home,” he said. “That’s why I go so hard.”
When Baker returned to the football field in 2021, the new coaching staff under Gus Malzahn moved him to defense to help fill out the secondary. He appeared in 10 games — mostly on special teams — registering 4 tackles for the Knights. The following season, he appeared in nine games, totaling 3 tackles.
This spring, however, he moved back to receiver.
“I embraced moving from spot to spot, but [moving back to receiver] has given me some stability,” said Baker. “It gave me the whole summer to work on my craft as a receiver. That’s what helped me the most.”
Said offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw: “In January, we said we’re putting him in one position and get good at it. He has gotten better and better and better and better. We’re seeing him fine-tune the position versus learning the position.
“He’s got great hips. He’s got great speed. He knows what to do, but the bottom line is he’s got to continue to make plays, which he did in the spring and is doing this fall camp.”
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For Baker, the process began when he arrived as a true freshman.
He studied teammates and fellow receivers Gabe Davis, Marlon Williams and Ryan O’Keefe, learning how they honed their craft. Each showcased a different element that Baker could learn from during their time at UCF.
“Coming in as a freshman, I wasn’t doing a lot of stuff. I thought I was, but looking at those guys — how they prepared, what they ate and just seeing some of the little stuff guys like Davis did to separate himself — I just tried to model my game after theirs,” said Baker.
It’s paying off, especially when any advantage can help in a competitive receivers group that features starters Javon Baker, Kobe Hudson and Xavier Townsend, along with newcomers such as transfers Corey Gammage (Marshall), Trent Whittemore (Florida) and Chauncey Magwood (Kentucky).
“We’ve got an explosive room and I want to be the one to make that play because you never know,” Baker said. “If you miss your opportunity, it could be Kobe; it could be Javon; it could be Xavier who can score. You must make all the ones that come to you because you never know.”
Either way, Baker believes he has a chance to make a big impact as the Knights enter the Big 12.
“I know who I am and what type of football player I can be,” he said. “I’m still not where I want to be, but seeing a little progress is a good feeling.”
Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.