HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Dallas Baker owns the receiving records at New Smyrna Beach High School, a 2007 national championship ring from Florida and a Super Bowl XLIII title from his brief career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He views his new job as Marshall’s receivers coach as a continuation of his football infatuation.
“I am doing something I always wanted to do,” Baker said. “As a kid I always wanted to play in the NCAA, the NFL, and be a coach. I am excited and it’s really a blessing.”
Baker came to Marshall after a stint as passing game coordinator at Warner University, an NAIA program near Tampa. He could become a huge factor in Florida recruiting,.
“Marshall is Division I and Warner is NAIA, but at the end of the day it is college football,” Baker said. “There’s a difference in the talent level and the stadium, but it is still college football, I don’t look at it as a major or minor difference. It is just an opportunity for me to coach.”
Baker starred for Florida during a stint when Marshall head coach Doc Holliday was serving as the Gators’ top assistant.
He inherits a group that lost most of its top receivers from 2016, when Marshall’s passing attack couldn’t compensate for a brutal run game. The Herd finished 80th nationally in scoring (26.4) and 113th in yards per completion (10.9).
Michael Clark, who led the team with 632 receiving yards and five touchdowns, is currently fighting for a spot on the Green Bay Packers roster. Josh Knight, the top pass-catcher with 62, graduated and Deon-Tay McManus and Justin Hunt also have departed.
Out of the top five receivers, only tight end Ryan Yuracheck remains.
Newcomers like Tyre Brady, a transfer from Miami who sat out last year, couldbe crucial. He played in 10 games over two years with the Hurricanes, catching nine passes. Returnees like Hyleck Foster, converting back to receiver from running back, also must step up if Marshall is to recover from last year’s 3-9 finish.
“The entire group has really stood out to me,” Baker said. “Like I tell them though, we can never be complacent, we can never feel like we have made it or have finished with the work day. We come out and practice, and when practice is over we do drills and get on the Jugs machine.
Baker said he’s seeking “relentless effort” and has given all his receivers a chance to start over during camp competition.
“I never want to have to coach effort,” he said. “Take every play, every four to six seconds, like it’s your last play.”
The first chance to see how Baker and the receiver unit looks will come Sept. 2 when Miami (Ohio) comes to the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
— Troy Alexander