Last week, after attending Temple’s first preseason practice, promising wide receiver Deven Baker of Bound Brook (N.J.) High School told Scout.com that he was close to committing to the Owls. On Monday morning, Baker followed through on that decision, pledging to sign with Coach Al Golden’s squad.On Tuesday morning, Baker explained his decision to OwlsDaily.com.
“It’s the last wide receiver spot they had,” said Baker, referring to the fact that the Owls have received verbal commitments from two other wide receivers this recruiting season. “I took into consideration the possibility of injury or something else happening. I didn’t want to get stuck in the future if I had an offer in my hands right now.”
The Owls offered Baker (6-4, 180) a scholarship more than a month ago – following an impressive performance at their one-day camp in June. He returned to North Broad Street last week, attending the team’s first preseason practice along with several other recruiting targets.
The return trip helped convince him to commit, Baker said.
“My mom wanted me to take it, too,” he added. “She visited the school and thought it would be the best place for me.”
Baker totaled 50 receptions for 900 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. And he isn’t the only hot receiving target at Bound Brook High. Teammate Erron Banks is also getting looks from Division I schools. Banks (6-1, 175) attended Temple’s one-day camp along with Baker, but the Owls aren’t pursuing him at this time.
Baker said he received interest from UConn, Cincinnati, and Virginia, among others. But none of them came through with a scholarship offer. Why? Here’s one possible reason: Temple is the only team that got an up-close look at Baker this summer.
“I couldn’t afford to go to a lot of camps, so Temple was the only one,” Baker explained.
The other schools were planning to take a look at him this season, then make a decision whether to offer a scholarship. Well, they can still look. But Baker says he’s not changing his mind.
At 6-4, Baker is taller than any receiver in the program except for 6-4 wideout Raheem Onibudo, a transfer from St. Peter’s who joined the Owls this month.
Baker plans to be at Lincoln Financial Field when the Owls host Navy on Aug. 31.