2 days ago
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Sam Baker in focus
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Sam Baker in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 79 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we take a look at former USC All-American offensive lineman Sam Baker.
Position: Offensive line
Years played at USC: 2003-2007
Career highlights: After redshirting his first year on campus in 2003, Baker started the next four seasons for the Trojans at left tackle. In 2005, 2006, 2007, he earned first-team All-American honors. Baker is one of four USC players to be named an All-American three times, along with Richard Wood, Matt Leinart, and Taylor Mays.
During Baker's time on campus, USC won two national championships, three Rose Bowls, an Orange Bowl, and five Pac-10 titles. Baker blocked for two Trojan Heisman winners: Leinart in 2004 and Reggie Bush in 2005.
After USC: Baker was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He spent all seven seasons of his NFL career with the team. However, his career was hampered by injuries, as he appeared in just 70 games over that stretch, making 61 starts. After missing the entire 2014 season with a knee injury, Baker was released by Atlanta in 2015.
