Derrick Baker gave Tennessee fans a glimpse of why the Vols are so interested in him Friday night.
The 2027 Tennessee quarterback commit was all over the field in Milton High School’s 42-21 win over Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, helping the Eagles move to 3-1 with a performance that showed off both sides of his game. Baker hurt BGA through the air and kept the defense honest with his legs, turning in a night full of highlight plays.
He got rolling early in the first quarter with a deep touchdown throw while scrambling outside the pocket. Not long after, Baker kept it himself and scored on the ground, using a slow-and-go move near the sideline to shake a defender before reaching the end zone.
Milton kept piling it on in the second quarter, and Baker was in the middle of that surge again. He hit a receiver on a slant, and the play turned into another trip to the end zone as the Eagles stretched the lead to four touchdowns. Baker also flashed the rugged running style that stands out in his game, powering through a key second-half carry.
He finished the night with one more touchdown toss, dropping a ball into the back corner of the end zone for extra insurance late in the fourth quarter.
There were no official stats available from the game, but the film told the story clearly enough: Baker was the difference-maker. The 6-foot-1 quarterback from Alpharetta, Georgia, committed to Tennessee in February. He’s rated a three-star prospect in the 2027 class, though 247Sports’ Composite Rankings have him as the No. 39 quarterback nationally and the No. 95 player in Georgia.
Friday’s trip to Tennessee was a productive one for the Vols commit, and if this outing is any indication, Baker is bringing plenty of dual-threat juice with him when he eventually arrives in Knoxville after National Signing Day.
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