UCF's Baker, formerly of Alabama, headed to Senior Bowl

UCF’s Baker, formerly of Alabama, headed to Senior Bowl

Central Florida wide receiver Javon Baker has accepted an invitation to the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, it was announced Friday.

Baker, an Atlanta native, spent the first two seasons of his career at Alabama. He was a four-star recruit in the Crimson Tide’s 2020 signing class, and caught nine passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in two seasons in Tuscaloosa before transferring to UCF.

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound Baker had back-to-back excellent seasons at UCF. He caught 56 passes for 796 yards and five touchdowns in 2022, then followed that up with 52 receptions for 1,159 yards (an average of 21.9 yards per catch) and seven scores in 2023.

Baker is one of several players with state ties in the 75th anniversary Senior Bowl, which takes place Feb. 3 in Mobile, including three fellow transfers who also began their college careers in-state — quarterback Bo Nix (Auburn to Oregon), offensive lineman Javien Cohen (Alabama to Miami) and cornerback Khyree Jackson (Alabama to Oregon). Also among those confirmed for the annual all-star game and NFL draft showcase are Alabama kicker Will Reichard and defensive linemen Justin Eboigbe and Chris Braswell; Auburn defensive backs DJ James, Nehemiah Pritchett and Jaylin Simpson and defensive lineman Marcus Harris; Troy running back Kimani Vidal and linebacker Javon Solomon; Missouri defensive back (and former Spanish Fort star) Kris Abrams-Draine, Mississippi State linebacker (and Maplesville native) Nathaniel Watson and Ole Miss defensive end (and Mobile native) Cedric Johnson.

The 2024 Senior Bowl kicks off at noon on Feb. 3 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. NFL Network will televise the game live.