Name: Gavin Baker
School: Muhlenberg College
Position: Guard/Center
Height: 6-4
Weight: 315
Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?
Prior to my final collegiate season, I had goals to get faster and become stronger. I set goals such as reaching a certain weight on all three of our core lifts: bench, squat, and clean. I was successful in achieving those weightlifting goals. I also strived to improve from my previous season. Though I did not receive all-conference recognition like I wanted, I did make an impact on the football field. As a team we ran the football much better than last year, and we also gave up fewer sacks than the year before. I attribute both those things to the work that I put in during the offseason.
Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?
My coaches and teammates would say that I am a hard-working and tenacious player. Whether it is in the weight room or on the football field I am constantly striving to make myself better. I am also someone who is very detail-oriented. When in film sessions I make sure to make accurate diagrams of how each play should be run, as well as include any key details for my positions.
Q: When you are studying film, what are the things you focus on to improve your game?
My main areas of focus when watching film are technique and job assignments. I want to make sure I gain ground in my steps, my hand placement is in the chest and not on their shoulders, and most importantly, I am giving 100% effort in each play. I spend hours watching film from the year prior during game week to see where I was most successful, and to see if I can improve on any areas where I falter
Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?
As I mentioned before, I am driven. Perfecting my craft means everything to me. I have modeled my game after the pros, and I have spent a long time training for the chance to test my mettle against the best. My mother would always say that me and my sister are ‘gamers’ and what that means to me is that we come alive in clutch situations, or in other words, we are always ready to attack when the lights are shining the brightest.
Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?
I will spend a lot of time with my trainer, mostly improving my technique as an offensive lineman, and I will spend a lot of time improving my strength and explosiveness in the gym, so that it can translate to my execution on the field.
Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
My ability to lead my example. During my time at Muhlenberg, I always did every drill with the best effort I could possibly give. I was willing to put in the extra work to better myself as well as the team. I would always spend one extra day in the gym making myself stronger, and one extra day on the field making myself better. My teammates at Muhlenberg would also say that I am very kind. One of the ebay things about each season was meeting all the new players. I knew that when I left Muhlenberg, I wanted to leave a lasting impact on all the younger players, and I feel that I succeeded at doing so, because our relationship off the field strengthened our unity on the field.
Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL and any other pro leagues?
Football is a sport that has shown me so much. It has made me a better man, a better friend, a better teammate, and so much more. My time playing football in college was a blessing. I have made friends that I will have for a lifetime as well as memories that I will always cherish. Football has given me so much, I could not possibly let this journey go so soon. As I have mentioned before, I am willing to make the sacrifices necessary, and I am willing to put in the work necessary to achieve my goal of getting to the top. I am well aware that my fighting chance is slim coming from a Division 3 level, and that the journey will be very hard, but I’ll be damned if I let that stop me.
