Baker Named Sporting News All-American

December 07, 2016 | Football

By: Brian Tom

Washington junior safety Budda Baker was named first team All-America by the Sporting News on Wednesday. It is the first of the major All-America teams to be announced during the post-season.

Baker (Bellevue, Wash.) was recently named first team All-Pac-12 and voted Defensive MVP by his teammates. He ranks second on the squad with 65 total tackles and leads the team with nine tackles for loss. He also accounted for two sacks, a pair of interceptions and five pass break ups.

Baker is the Huskies first defensive back to earn first-team All-America honors since Lawyer Milloy was an unanimous All-American in 1995.

The Sporting News All-America list is the first of five teams announced that fall under consideration for making the unanimous All-America team. The others are Walter Camp ( announced Dec. 8), Associated Press (Dec. 12), Football Writers' Association (Dec. 12) and the American Football Coaches Association (Dec. 14).