WKU Football: Junior Running Back Quinton Baker To Transfer Away From Football Program
With WKU football in the middle of spring practice and only two weeks away from the spring game, we found out a surprising bombshell as junior running back Quinton Baker announced his intention to transfer away from the program.
Baker was a three star recruit out of Ashland, Kentucky whom Jeff Brohm flipped from Marshall. He was one of the most celebrated recruits from the Brohm era but trouble repeatedly followed him over his Hilltopper tenure. Shortly after arriving on campus he was arrested for a DUI and marijuana possession.
He still made an instant impact on WKU’s explosive offense, serving as Ace Wales’ primary back-up, racking up 542 yards rushing on just 99 carries with four touchdowns during WKU’s second-straight Conference Championship season. Big things were expected from Baker as Wales graduated and he was expected to take the primary running back position including shining in last year’s spring game
Unfortunately, off-the-field issues resurfaced for Baker again during a fateful evening last March where Baker and five others got in an altercation with a local fraternity.
Baker was subsequently suspended for the season opener against EKU and his sophomore campaign never got off the ground as he finished with just 233 yards on just 65 carries as his season ended prematurely when he broke his collarbone during the Vanderbilt game.
Last year was a lost season for Baker, but he remained a candidate for the top back as no one stood out in WKU’s historically bad 2017 rushing offense.
Baker had been participating in spring practice but something must have happened again off the field to facilitate his exit. The writing also might have been on the wall on the field as Jakairi Moses and D’Andre Ferby emerging as primary back front runners and other freshman such as Josh Samuel staking a claim for a spot in the rotation as well.
Losing Baker’s home run potential does sting, but he probably would have only been a change of pace back for a coaching staff that he didn’t see playing for when he signed in 2016.
With repeated transgressions off the field during his Hilltopper career, a change of scenery may be the best thing for Quinton as a fresh start in a offensive scheme that matches his running style probably will be for the best.
As the WKU release letter shows, he is able to transfer to any school not in Conference USA or on WKU’s 2018 schedule. Best of luck to Quinton moving forward and we hope he finds success down the road whether it be at the FBS or FCS level.
