Alabama safety sees elements of former Tide great in true freshman WR Javon Baker
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Alabama true freshman wide receiver Javon Baker has his number called sparingly thus far for the Crimson Tide this season. The former 4-star recruit, considered the No. 34 wide receiver in the country as a senior at McEachern High School in suburban Atlanta, hopes that he will get to showcase the skillset that made him a highly sought-after player sooner rather than later.
And that time may come relatively soon, due to the season-ending injury sustained by Jaylen Waddle. While Baker hasn’t had a great deal of playing time, he’s already been getting some accolades.
“He has great routes and he has probably the greatest hands on the team,” said sophomore defensive back Jordan Battle, according to Bama OnLine. “He has strong hands. As a player, he reminds me of, almost like an Amari Cooper type of guy.”
That’s high praise for Baker, who will no doubt relish the comparison to the Cowboys superstar and one of the best wide receivers in Crimson Tide football history. While it’s far too early to tell if Baker will have as successful a trajectory as Cooper—and of Waddle, for that matter—it sounds like he’ll be prepared when he receives his opportunity in Alabama’s high-powered offense.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
