Shannon Maurice Baker (born July 20, 1970) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Indianapolis Colts.[1] He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles.[2] He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Early life
Baker is from Lakeland, Florida.[3] He initially attended Kathleen High School in Lakeland, where he threw for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore quarterback.[4] Baker transferred to Lakeland High School as a junior and was converted to a wide receiver before switching back to quarterback ahead of his senior season in 1988.[5][6] Aside from football, he was a starter on the basketball team and starred on the track and field team.[6] As a junior in 1988, he won the state title in the 100 meter dash.[6] Baker repeated the feat as a senior, also winning the 220 yard dash state title, and was named the Polk County Boys Track Athlete of the Year by The Tampa Tribune.[7]
College career
Baker accepted a scholarship to play football at Florida State University.[8] As a sophomore, he caught a memorable touchdown on a Hail Mary pass as time expired in the first half of a win over LSU.[9][10] Baker finished the season with 18 catches for 242 yards and four touchdowns.[11]
Baker was featured in a more prominent role by his junior year, when he was named the starting flanker.[12] He caught 25 passes in the first seven games of the season,[13] finishing with 30 catches for 451 yards and four touchdowns.[14] As a senior, Baker recorded 22 catches for 297 yards and three touchdowns. He also sprinted on the Seminoles track team.[15]
Professional career
Baker was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the eighth round (205th overall) of the 1993 NFL draft.[16] He was waived on August 30, 1993.[17] Baker signed with the Indianapolis Colts on September 22.[18] He recorded two catches for 15 yards in 1994 and was waived on September 27, 1994,[19] subsequently spending three weeks on the practice squad.[20] On December 15, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as one of the first three players in franchise history.[20] However, he was released on August 13, 1995.[21] Baker signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) later that month.[22] He suffered a separated shoulder in a game against the Calgary Stampeders, forcing him to miss the remainder of the 1995 season.[23] At the time of his injury, Baker was leading the league with 24.4 yards per kick return.[23] He also returned a punt for a touchdown.[24] In 1996, Baker was knocked unconscious in a game against the Edmonton Eskimos.[25] He played 17 games for the Blue Bombers over two seasons.[26]
Baker signed a free agent deal with the New Orleans Saints in April 1997.[27] He was waived that August before signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders the following month.[28][26] In the 85th Grey Cup, Baker returned the opening kickoff for 74 yards.[29] He re-signed with Saskatchewan in May 1998.[30] He made his first touchdown catch in a loss to the Montreal Alouettes on July 9 before he was released in September.[29][31]
References
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