Odds don’t faze Baker

June 15, 2012 at 12:09a.m.

The Canfield High graduate is trying to make the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent

Each year, about 100,000 high school seniors play football. Of those, about 9,000 play college football. Of those, a little more than 200 make it to the NFL.

“Growing up, I learned that less than 1 percent make it to the NFL,” Canfield High graduate Sean Baker said. “I’m still looking at those odds.”

Baker is inching closer to beating them.

After going undrafted in late April — and going unsigned in the hours after the final round — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers invited Baker to their rookie minicamp in May for a tryout.

The Ball State safety was one of 75 players there, a list that included draft picks, undrafted free agents, 44 rookie tryouts and a handful of veterans trying to get a camp invitation.

“I just came out and tried to prove I was capable of deserving a shot to play in the NFL,” Baker said. “I’m not one to get too nervous. This is what I trained for and prepared for. It’s the same game I played when I was little and I took the attitude that I had nothing to lose.

“I just tried to show I was physically and mentally capable of playing in this league.”

Over the 21/2-day camp, he succeeded. Baker was one of 13 players from the minicamp invited to training camp as part of the team’s 90-man roster. (To make room, the Bucs released 12 players.)

After attending Organized Team Activities in mid-May, Baker spent the past three days in the Bucs’ team minicamp, a precursor to next month’s training camp.

“It’s a lot more mental at this level,” said Baker, who finished his career at Ball State’s career leader in interceptions and earned first team all-Mid-American Conference honors last fall. “There’s a lot of mental work to be a true professional. At this point, it is a job. It’s how people live. You have to attack it like that.

“At the same time, you realize it’s a game and you enjoy it. There’s a lot of vets here and it’s really great to learn from them about how to handle yourself as a professional on and off the field.”

Baker now has a 21/2-week break — he said he’ll spend about 10 days in Canfield and seven in Indianapolis — and he plans to use that time to stay in shape and clear his head.

“It’s a long grind, from the pre-combine training all the way up to this point,” Baker said. “It’s a good time to get a break. It’s a lot more competitive when you get back to camp.

“That’s when it starts counting.”

Baker is one of four Mahoning Valley natives trying to make an NFL team as an undrafted free agent, joining Texans cornerback Desmond Marrow (Cardinal Mooney), Ravens defensive tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen (Cardinal Mooney) and Ravens center Chris Anzevino (Warren Harding).

Two other Valley natives were drafted in April: Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe (Beaver Local) and Bengals running back Dan Herron (Warren Harding).

“It’s definitely a battle,” Baker said of making the final roster. “And it’s an upfield battle when you’re a rookie free agent.

“You just have to come in and work for everything you get.”