Two days after firing Matt House as defensive coordinator, LSU found his replacement. 41-year-old Blake Baker who has reportedly agreed to a three-year, 2.5-million-dollar contract, which would make him the highest paid assistant coach in college football.
The Houston native has a lot of ties to Louisiana, and this is the second time he’ll be wearing purple and gold. He was LSU’s linebackers coach in 2021. Even though that was a dysfunctional year, he helped Damone Clark become one of the best linebackers in LSU’s history.
After Orgeron was fired, Baker went to Missouri and was originally hired as a safeties coach. A month later he was promoted to defensive coordinator.
In 2021, Missouri was ranked 106th nationally in total defense. In Baker’s first season in Columbia, the Tigers vaulted all the way up to 34th in the country and this past season they were ranked 33rd, allowing 336 yards a game.
LSU and its fans would love to see that improvement.
It might start with getting linebacker Harold Perkins to be more of a pass rusher. After 7.5 sacks his freshman season, Perkins had 5.5 sacks his sophomore campaign and he was on the field a lot more in 2023.
Baker is familiar with Perkins, he recruited him out of Cy Park High School in Texas.
Baker was also a defensive coordinator at Miami and Louisiana Tech. In 2019, the Hurricanes were ranked 13th nationally in total defense. He helped develop defensive end Jaelan Phillps, who was selected 18th in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Baker also had good defenses in Ruston as the Bulldogs had a lot of success with him as their DC. They won two Conference USA division titles and five bowl games. In 2015, Tech led Conference USA in rush defense, and he helped develop Jaylon Ferguson who led the nation in sacks with 17.5 in 2018.
Money is not the only reason why Baker is returning to LSU. His wife is from Mandeville and is a former All-SEC soccer player at LSU. Baker also played football at Tulane. He was a three-year starter at linebacker from the Green Wave.
On the surface, this looks like a great hire and it’s clear Kelly targeted Baker as his name quickly emerged as the guy after House was fired.
While LSU’s offense is not expected to be as explosive next season, it should be really good. LSU’s defense just needs to be competent for them to have a chance to be in the 12-team playoff.
Baker also knows you can win a national championship at LSU. It’s unlikely that happens at Missouri. If Baker turns this Tigers defense around, he’ll find himself head coaching gig.
But if this hire doesn’t work out, the heat will be turned up on Kelly.
