Take a guess. How many five-star rated recruits, by a national ranking service, would you say the Class of 2021 in the Bluegrass has in the entire sport of high school football?
Well, at KPGFootball (and we don’t know who would know the answer to this any better than we), we only know of the one. His identity may well shock you.
Powell County High School’s (nickname, “Poco”) Brian Baker has attended the prestigious Ray Guy Pro Kicker Academy two years in a row. He left this last combine ranked a 5-Star place-kicker and a 4-Star punter.
We have personally seen the kid punt. His distance, direction, and hang-time are unbelievable. We would say Ray Guy got it reversed. How can this kid not be a 5-star punter? Oh well, we aren’t Ray Guy.
Anyone who doesn’t appreciate just how a kicking game, like the one Baker provides for his Poco team, can impact a high school game doesn’t know very much about football. Brian Baker, in 2019, made about 90% of his attempted PATs and half of his field goal attempts.
While this may not seem noteworthy to some of you, none of you saw from where they were expecting this kid to convert. Put it this way…the offense left Baker, oftentimes, in unenviable positions a professional would have had trouble converting.
The problem is his leg is incredibly strong. Once you past the 50-yard line, you start thinking you can end every stalled drive with 3-points.
Sure, that isn’t at all realistic. But, with Baker’s leg you just seem never “out of range.”
This is one position where the best player in the ’21 class seems so clear. Matter of fact, he may be the best player at two positions. Don’t see that everyday.
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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