When Hayden Baker walked on at Northwestern last year, he did so with no guarantees.

Other football opportunities at other places may have provided promises of an immediate starting position or more playing time. But for Baker, who anchored Cary-Grove’s offensive line on the Trojans’ 2009 state championship team, Northwestern offered something more.

Remaining close to home gave Baker not only the chance to continue his football career in a Big Ten environment, but it also placed him in a world-class academic setting. For Baker, who has moved into the role of being the Wildcats’ backup center as a sophomore, that was plenty to go on.