North Carolinas top prospect makes his pick

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Jamestown (N.C.) Ragsdale running back Toney Baker has been one of the most difficult prospects to read during the recruiting process. He has kept quiet and been very weary of throwing hints as to a possible leader, but today at the U.S. Army game he ended all the speculation and donned the college hat of his choice.

"I have decided to take my talents North Carolina State University," Baker said. "It was a tough decision, but when I thought about everything and weighed it all out I just kept coming back to them. One of the main things that I wanted was to stay close to home and they are close."

The 5-foot-10, 218-pound Baker runs the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds, runs the shuttle in 4.15 seconds, has a 32-inch vertical jump and does 30 reps on the bench press.

Baker is ranked as the nation's No. 15 overall player, the No. 3 running back in the country and the top prospect in the state of North Carolina by Rivals.com.

He has posted obscene stats the past two years rushing for 3,411 yards and 41 touchdowns as a junior and 3,030 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior. He earned all-state honors in both his junior and senior seasons.

Baker visited NC State on December 3 and that was his only visit and he had no other official visits scheduled.