BOOM!!! UCLA flips 4* Safety Myles Baker from Cal.

“It was really tough, I was torn,” Baker said. “End of the day, I just had to follow my heart and felt most comfortable at UCLA. The visit there really opened my eyes, it exceeded my expectations and it felt like home.

“More than that though, I really believe in coach Chesney, his plan in place and how I can be successful on and off the field. He’s a winner, he has won everywhere he’s gone and I know he’s going to do big things at UCLA and I’m excited to be a part of that turn around.”

Baker said his comfort level went beyond just Bob Chesney but with the players and coaches.

“I already know a lot of the guys on the team,” Baker said. “I like the energy and vibe and everyone is on the same page. Everyone really believes in the direction the program is going in.

“The staff has been great with me, starting with Gabe Lynn, who stayed on me even before coach Chesney was hired. I really like Colin Hitschler (DC) and D Mike (Anthony DiMichele, safety coach) as well. I’ve built a great relationship with them in a short time and love the scheme fit all around.”

Baker is a big safety who will move around and said the plan is to line up in multiple positions.

“They feel I’m a prototype Big Ten safety,” Baker said. “I can play the pass and the run. I’m physical enough to play in the box and impact the run game but also have the range to play deep and impact the passing game.

“I’m just really relieved this is settled. It was stressful for me these past couple of weeks but I feel good about my decision and I’m excited to be a Bruin.”

Baker is one of the top safety prospects in the country and is currently rated the No. 286 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services. He’s rated No. 210 in the Rivals 300 and the No. 19 player in the state.

Myles Baker was still committed to Cal but the UCLA coaches didn’t seem to care. Actually, they seemed to relish the chase of flipping one of California’s best safeties.

After a midweek visit back to Berkeley earlier this month, the four-star from Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon returned home and the next day went down to Westwood for a semi-private workout.

“I went up there one day and got a workout in and doing that, I could really see myself there and see myself being coached by coach (Anthony DiMichele) and coach Gabe (Lynn) and coach (Colin Hitschler),” said Baker, who has now flipped his pledge to the Bruins.

It was another major selling point to Baker as he was wavering on his Cal commitment and decided against taking a visit to LSU.

“They called me and were like, ‘Just come up,’ because the World Cup was going on and they were like, ‘Just come up and hang out. We’re not going to try to recruit you. We’re not going to do any of that. We just want you to hang out and be around the players,’” Baker said.

“One of the assistant safeties coaches, coach Justice (Seales), he was there with Khalil (Terry) and he dropped everything he was doing to pick me up. That was real love and they have real feelings about me and the plan they have for me to play, I loved it, and how they’re going to be utilizing me. It fits me better.”

What sold Baker the most were his feelings about the UCLA coaching staff and how close he’s gotten to them recently.

What he felt during his visits to Westwood, the plan they have for him at safety and just his comfort level at UCLA was undeniable.

Over multiple trips back to campus, Baker just saw himself there more than he saw himself anywhere else.

And the excitement around the program is something he didn’t want to miss out on.

“When I went on my visit, I had an amazing time and then they kept on me,” Baker said. “They stayed on me and I built this great relationship with the whole defensive staff and on top of that I built a great relationship with coach (Bob) Chesney as well. The support they have behind me, I love it.

“They’re real. Everything we have talked about, they have been real and honest. They understood how I was committed to Cal and they were telling me, ‘I don’t care. You could be committed to Cal.’ Until my signing day, they were never going to let up.

“You could feel the real love that they have for me.”

program.

Baker is one of the top safety prospects in the country and is currently rated the No. 287 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.

He’s rated even higher by Rivals.com, checking in as the No. 210 prospect in the country and the No. 19 player in the state.

Baker is one of the more versatile defensive players in the region with size, athleticism and physicality. Some schools liked Baker as a linebacker, others said safety and UCLA plans to use him almost as a hybrid.

He’s a safety first but has a big enough frame to play some in the box and impact the run game. He’s a physical player, loves to hit and has the kind of edge you love to see at the safety/hybrid position.

Baker is all of 6-foot-1, 200 pounds but looks even bigger and has the kind of frame to easily carry an additional 15-20 pounds or so without losing any of his athleticism.

He has the multi-sport background we like as a former hooper who has also run track. He has some under-rated bounce and twitch to him and is a fluid mover.

He’s a highly instinctive player who can get downhill in a hurry and is an excellent open field tackler. Baker really flows well to the football, and is a reactionary athlete who plays 2-3 steps ahead of everyone else on the field.

Overall, this is a big pickup and flip for the Bruins.

UCLA flipping Baker is a nice win and a player we think can compete immediately for playing time at the next level.”

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