Malik Baker, Southeast Missouri State DB: the 2026 season story
Malik Baker is a senior defensive back for Southeast Missouri State (OVC). He ranks 1540th of 1,841 defensive backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive back on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked defensive back, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Malik Baker's strongest measure is passes defended per game at 0.36, 323rd of 921 (the average is 0.31). His weakest is tackles per game at 1.1, 922nd of 921 (the average is 3.7).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 1.1, ranks 922nd among 921 ranked defensive backs.
Against every defensive back
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked defensive backs he sits, on average, in the 1st percentile for volume, 26th for efficiency and 33rd for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 9 games, Malik Baker's best came in week 7 against Western Illinois and his quietest in week 2 at Southern Illinois.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every defensive back on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Malik Baker is 723rd of 920 FCS defensive backs and 45th of 66 in the OVC. Next up nationally is Ernest Blackshire Jr. of Wagner, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Defensive backs like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Nijay Gay of Hampton.
