Meet Tennessee commit Derrick Baker, the most under-ranked QB prospect in the '27 class

AlabamaArizonaBYUGeorgiaGeorgia TechHoustonIndianaIowaJames MadisonMiami (FL)MichiganNorth TexasNotre DameOhio StateOklahomaOle MissOregonTexas A&MTexasTexas TechTulaneUSCUtahVanderbiltVirginiaScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsNewsletterRecruitingOddsPicksBest Portal Classes2026 CFB PredictionsEarly Top 25Transfer QB RankingsMeet Tennessee commit Derrick Baker, the most under-ranked QB prospect in the ’27 classDerrick Baker committed to Tennessee coach Josh Heupel in February. Courtesy of Derrick Baker Share articleDerrick Baker committed to Tennessee in February. Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo visited the three-star quarterback last week, though, and offered him a scholarship. Ohio State has made the trip to Milton (Ga.) High — just north of Atlanta —  this spring, too. So has Arkansas. And Boston College. So why is a quarterback who is in such demand just ranked so low, No. 723 overall and No. 40 at his position in the Class of 2027 in the 247Sports Composite? “It’s all just game-tape related,” Milton head coach Ben Reaves said. “I fully expect that whenever he gets some game tape in — (especially) in the first three (games) because we start out playing a pretty tough schedule — and people see what he can do, just like the college coaches that have been here live to evaluate him, all of the rankings and all of the hype that comes with that will follow, as well.” The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Baker transferred to Milton before the 2025 season from St. Thomas Aquinas in South Florida and had every intention of making a splash in his first season as a varsity starter. He jumped right in and made his Week 1 debut against perennial powerhouse Buford (Ga.) High, which is known for producing top talent and had gone 15-0 the year prior en route to a Class 6A championship. Tennessee QB commit Derrick Baker dropping dimes. This is not the first one of these today. Georgia offered yesterday. pic.twitter.com/KOl9Jn8raT — Jeremy Johnson (@JeremyO_Johnson) May 7, 2026 But in the third quarter, Baker threw an interception and hurt his wrist while trying to make the tackle. He stayed in the game — and even convinced Reaves to let him throw a pass with his left hand — but eventually had to come out. He later learned that it was a season-ending ligament injury that required surgery. “Last year was a little disappointing,” Baker said. “Coming in, taking over as the leader of the team, it just kind of hit hard when that injury came out, even though after the game, I didn’t really know how severe it was until I figured out everything. “I didn’t get the chance to put my ability on the field with (my teammates) to help them (win) back-to-back-to-back state championships.” The injury slowed down Baker’s recruitment. Other than those first three quarters of the Buford game, he had no film to share with college coaches, who were aware of his abilities from camps but wanted to see him as a starter in game settings. Georgia backed off, the Bulldogs telling him they wanted to wait to move forward because of the injury. So did other Power 4 programs. But Tennessee, which had already offered Baker over the summer, felt differently. “They kept in contact through my injury, and that was the biggest part,” Baker said. “When I got injured, some of that recruitment went down, and I kind of knew that was coming. But for them to still show interest, they were coming out, still seeing me, even when I was injured. (Head) coach (Josh) Heupel was out to watch a game and talk to me, and it really showed that they want me and they want me around.” Baker committed to the Vols in February and said Tennessee is the only program he plans to officially visit unless “something bizarre” happens and he has to decommit for one reason or another — though he added he doesn’t see that happening. Tennessee was ready, even eager, to take his commitment earlier this spring. But that doesn’t mean other teams — including Georgia — won’t try to change Baker’s mind. Bobo wasted no time in offering the QB a scholarship after watching him at practice last week. Reaves, who raved about his quarterback’s leadership from the sidelines last season, said he hasn’t asked Baker how he’s feeling about his recruitment, especially with Milton set to play in a spring game Friday against Walton (Ga.) High. The coach figures his quarterback will have conversations with his family as things continue to progress. “I do know that he really, really loves Tennessee,” Reaves said. “He loves the program, he loves the coaches. He did his research to know that he’d be a good fit there. So I think anybody that comes in at this point is going to have a really, really hard time flipping him.” Now fully healthy, Baker said his primary focus is on his upcoming senior season and being with his teammates. Even with the injury, he was voted a permanent team captain last season as he supported the Eagles from the sidelines and took on a new, if unexpected role. He’s not worried about his ranking — though it almost certainly will rise in the coming months. “I know I could possibly be ranked higher, and everyone goes off of rankings, but no one goes off your ability to be a leader. The ability off the field,” Baker said. “And then also there’s a part, an aspect of film. Yes, I understand that. But being ranked, I’m ranked right now, even if it is as a three-star, and I’m still grateful for that. Being ranked has never really been much of a worry for me. I just want to go out and play football.” Instead, he’s got two things on his mind: “Just going out there and having fun with the guys,” Baker said of getting some joy back after last season. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms