BC’S BAKER AT CENTER OF IT ALL
Senior will anchor line as Eagles try to keep climbing
Jon Baker begins his final campaign at Boston College as an All-Atlantic Coast Conference preseason selection and a candidate for the Rimington Trophy, an award given annually to college football’s top center.
It’s hard to imagine Baker’s football career originated with a primal scream directed at a Tri-Valley League rival as a freshman at Millis High School.
“He was a two-way starter for us, and his freshman year he started varsity center,” said former Millis coach Dale Olmsted, who now runs the program at Nichols College.
“It was a game early on in the season and we were playing our rival Ashland. We had just gotten a first down on the 2-yard line, going in for a score, when a timeout was called.
“At that point of Jon’s freshman year, we hadn’t had much success, and the program was down and out in a rebuilding process. We broke the huddle, and Jon gets over the football and he has two hands up like he scored a touchdown.
“Then he lets out this incredibly loud roar, telling Ashland, ‘ Here we come,’” Olmstead continued. “At that point, I kind of looked over at my other coaches and said, ‘You don’t see that from a freshman.’ Ever since then, the kid has never looked back.”
Big man, small town
Millis is a tiny bedroom community west of Boston where an oversized kid walking the corridors attracted the attention of the Mohawks football staff.
Baker started 41 games at Millis and guided the team to consecutive Tri-Valley League Small titles. He was a two-time captain, a twotime Herald All-Scholastic and a two time TVL Lineman of the Year.
Despite playing on a small stage, Baker received attention from Division 1 programs across the nation. His 4.0 grade-point average enhanced his appeal in the major conferences and drew Ivy League interest.
“It started fairly quick with John, and at little old Millis, we never have much to offer,” Olmsted said. “Jon was a December grad at Millis with a 4.0, but Jon wanted to compete at the highest place possible.”
Baker was approached by elite football programs in the South, Midwest and as far west as Stanford. BC was in the picture since Baker’s sophomore year, and the prospect of playing center at O-line U. made everything fall into place.
BC head coach Steve Addazio and offensive line coach Justin Frye arrived at The Heights before Baker’s junior year at Millis, and they closed the deal.
“There were couple of different things, but first of all being close to home, I just loved that,” Baker said. “My family and my extended family get to see every game.
“Coach Frye and coach Addazio come in with a new kind of energy especially around the (offensive) line. On top of that was the tradition of O-line U. at BC. That was huge. I don’t think you will find a tandem of coaches that will develop an O-line better.”
Watch and learn
BC had a veteran line in place when Baker arrived at BC in the spring of 2014. BC and Toledo were the only teams in college football to start five graduate students on the offensive line in the 2014 season opener.
The Eagles group included Ian Silberman and Seth Betancourt at tackle, guards Harris Williams and Bobby Vardaro and Andy Gallik at center. Williams, who was considered the best of the bunch, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opener against UMass.
Williams was replaced by grad student Aaron Kramer, and the Eagles ground game didn’t miss a beat. BC finished second in the ACC with 254.7 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Tyler Murphy set an ACC rushing record for his position with 1,184 yards.
“Andy Gallik was a great player and a great guy, and all those guys were,” Baker said. “They all knew what to do, how to act, how to behave, how to practice and how to handle themselves.
“I tried to soak up all I could from all those guys because they were very successful and very talented.”
And then they were gone.
His time to shine
Baker started 12 games as a sophomore, the first three at left guard and the rest at center. The Eagles lost starting quarterback Darius Wade in the third game of the season and featured tailback Jon Hilliman the following week. BC finished 2-10 despite having the top-ranked defense in the country.
The Eagles regrouped last season behind quarterback Patrick Towles to finish 7-6, which included a 36-29 victory against Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl. Baker started all 13 games and emerged as the undisputed leader on the offensive line.
BC has four of its five starting linemen back in training camp. Baker was reunited with guards Chris Lindstrom and Sam Schmal and left tackle Aaron Monteiro of Brockton. Shane Leonard and West Virginia graduate transfer Marcel Lazard are competing for the starting right tackle spot.
“We’ve been together and developed together, and we’ve got to come together and keep on moving and keep on going,” Baker said. “Hopefully we’ll have a very good year. “