Georgia’s Baker named to Sporting News All-America Team

ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia senior defensive back Deandre Baker has been named to the 2018 Sporting News All-America First Team.

Baker, a Miami, Fla., native, became the first Bulldog to win the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award last week for being nation’s best defensive back in college football. He has also garnered Walter Camp, Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and ESPN.com First Team All-America honors and was named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Second Team.

Baker becomes the first Georgia All-American from the defensive backfield named to the Sporting News’ First Team since safety Greg Blue in 2005.

A Miami, Fla., native, Baker has started all 13 games for Georgia and has 40 tackles and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. He also has a team-best 10 pass break-ups. In addition, Baker has a forced fumble and has collected a fumble recovery for a defense that ranks 15th nationally allowing just 18.5 points per game.

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America teams are scheduled to be released on Wednesday.

The No. 5 Bulldogs (11-2) will take on No. 15 Texas (9-4) in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La., on Jan. 1 at 8:45 p.m. ET. ESPN will televise the fifth all-time matchup between the programs and the first matchup between the teams since 1984.