He graduated from Tustin High School, where Frostee Rucker, Matt McCoy, Chris Chester, and DeShaun Foster went.

Baker attended the University of Southern California, where he played for coach Pete Carroll's USC Trojans football team from 2003 to 2007.

Going into his fourth year as a starter, Baker was on the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy watch lists.

[3] During the 2007 season, Baker took on a leadership role in the offensive line, taking over the reins from departed senior Ryan Kalil and providing motivation as well as helping teach younger players.

He played in four games in 2013 before suffering a torn left patellar tendon which sidelined him for the rest of the year.

In the second game of the 2014 preseason, Baker suffered a torn patellar tendon injury in his right knee, which ended his season.