The NCAA has granted N.C. State senior running back Toney Baker's request for an extra season of eligibility, coach Tom O'Brien announced Thursday after practice.
Baker missed all but one game over two seasons because of a knee injury before returning this season for the Wolfpack. Getting the extra year doesn't guarantee that Baker will return, though, because there is a chance he will enter the NFL draft after this season.
"After the season I will talk to my family and Coach O'Brien and all these guys, and we'll figure out what's best for me," Baker said after practice Wednesday, before the sixth year was granted.
Baker returned to the starting lineup at the start of this season and leads the team with 664 rushing yards. He also has caught 21 passes for 306 yards.
O'Brien has said another healthy year at N.C. State might help erase any doubts pro scouts have about Baker's knee, but Baker wants to consider all his options after the season before committing to a return.
Comments
Equation
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 13:29 — SurferNFL potential plus injury probability minus the prospects for a successful State football season = decision. An easy one if he can come up with the correct values.
Simple equation.
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 16:26 — JPDOhioNFL potential-good, but not great due to recent injury. One more injury free year improves this considerably.
Injury probability-greater in the NFL than at State. Assuming he were to get drafted in the Spring (not a foregone conclusion based on his health history), is he healed enough to withstand NFL pounding.
Prospects for a successful State football season-very good. The struggles of this year by young players pay off next year. Take it to Vegas.
Quoting GoPack.com...
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:19 — dj5377"Baker will graduate in December with a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management."
Just wanted to answer the question of some those posting.
good deal
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 14:45 — gvillegatrand thx for the post.
Why?
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 19:53 — willncsuHe's just going to get hurt again. He is soft like TA. I am surprised he has not been hurt yet.
What an idiotic statement.
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 23:34 — tjfooseWhat an idiotic statement. TB is nothing like TA.
Your right...
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:55 — willncsuTA was much better.
No way.
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 16:27 — JPDOhioLook at the performance after each player suffered injuries. No comparison. TA was (is) a total waste of potential.
Your kidding right?
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 16:51 — willncsuTA
Year - Yards - TDS
2002 - 1101 - 18
2003 - 608 - 9
2004 - 770 - 6
Total - 2479 - 33
TB
2005 - 546 - 5
2006 - 688 - 6
2007 - 38 - 0
2008 - 0 - 0
2009 - 664 - 6
Total - 1936 - 17
He has been here long enough and done very little. Time to free up a scholarship.
Not kidding.
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 20:07 — JPDOhioI will concede that TA's first year was nothing short of amazing. Even as my memory gets worse as I get older, I can still remember his performance against Texas Tech. I think my assessment may be tainted by TA's awful response to nagging injuries. Despite his stats in his last two years, he was a shadow of the player he was as a freshman.
Toney has successfully recovered from a horrible injury situation, which I admire. He also shared the backfield with Andre Brown for most (if not all) of his career, which obviously affected his numbers. I don't recall who else was in the backfield with TA (there's that memory problem again), but I don't think they were the caliber of Brown. So TA probably had more opportunities.
Therefoe, I stand by my preference for Baker, despite the numbers. And, for the record, I never called you or anyone on this site a moron.
Moron?
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 16:52 — willncsuHopefully that was not directed at me for stating facts.
Moron
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:47 — JamesinWillowSpringsYour buss is leaving.
http://www.moviesoundclips.net/movies1/groundhogday/moron.wav
my buss?
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 14:49 — gvillegatrand to think DG said such nice things about you yesterday on the radio. It's a dadgum shame you don't convey the same message here at ACCNow.
and what I said about pack fans saying other pack fans "really aren't fans if you feel this way" is a true statement. it has been put down on blog more times than I can count here at ACCNow. i know I can get an AMEN on this from anyone here.
aaawwww
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 00:45 — gvillegatrI was hoping for one of those patented ncsu fan comments that claim the idiot is really not a true state fan if he talks negative about his team. classic. not this time, i guess.
Nah
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 10:52 — YAR8packThere are plenty of you idiot fluffers downing NC State all the time. Keep trying to compensate for how life has shorted you by taking jabs at a team when they're down and your lil bandwagon is riding high at the time. Typical, really.
Baker should definitely come back for a 6th year. I really doubt any NFL buzz has been created. Could be wrong, but I don't think so. However, the more important issue is whether or not Baker is in line to graduate. He should be. He's been at State for 5 years.
graduating
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:37 — gvillegatrhes been there for 5 years and that is precisely my point. you would think whoever wrote this piece had this kind of info or at least asked about it. my guess is he is not close to graduating. doesn't make him a bad person, though. I didnt graduate college in four years, either.
as far as bandwagon goes ... don't get all angry at me b/c you chose ncsu at a really early age and I chose UNC. my guess is, you can blame your father! I can certainly blame mine. :)