Source: LSU makes DC Baker top-paid assistant
Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Personnel WriterJan 5, 2024, 10:49 PM ET Brian Kelly and LSU called Missouri’s Blake Baker as their brand-new defensive planner Friday.The three-year offer, anticipated to pay Baker $2.5 million annually, will make him the highest-paid assistant in college football, a source informed ESPN’s Pete Thamel.Baker, who signed up with Eli Drinkwitz’s personnel in Columbia as defensive planner and securities coach prior to the 2022 season, changes Matt House.” Blake brings a wealth of experience and success as a defensive organizer throughout his career, including the last two years in the SEC at Missouri,”Kelly said in a statement released by the school.”His capability to establish and motivate his players while assembling extremely successful defenses sets him apart in his field.” Editor’s Picks Baker has actually also led defenses at both Louisiana Tech(2015-2018)and Miami(2019-20). His hire marks a go back to Baton Rouge, where he coached linebackers under Ed Orgeron in 2021. Kelly and the program revealed Wednesday that House, in addition to three other coaches– safeties coach Kerry Cooks, cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples and defensive line coach
Jimmy Lindsey– wouldn’t be back in 2024. Baker had previously signed an agreement extension at Missouri that raised his salary to$ 1.1 million for the 2023 season. His buyout of $1 million is really high for an assistant coach.Under his stewardship, Missouri’s defense finished 4th in the SEC in scoring defense( 20.8 PPG)while its total defense(336.1 YPG )and hurrying defense(122.8 YPG )were both 5th in the league. Missouri won 11 games last season and beat Ohio State in the
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.In returning to LSU after two seasons away, Baker will be asked to assist reconstruct the self-confidence of a system that disappointed fulfilling expectations.Kelly has a set of 10-3 seasons under his belt so far at LSU, however the defense didn’t hold up its end of the bargain while Heisman Prize winner Jayden Daniels was leading an electrical offense.The Tigers
‘defense ended up 105th nationally in total defense(416.6 YPG )and permitted 28 points a game, which was connected for 78th in the FBS with Akron.On the way to dropping games versus Florida State, Ole Miss and Alabama, LSU’s defense especially had a hard time– permitting at least 42 points and giving up a minimum of 494 overall backyards in each of the three games.LSU opens up its 2024 season against USC in the Vegas Kickoff Classic
on Sept. 1.