It looks like Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols will be hearing about rival programs trying to poach 2027 quarterback commit Derrick Baker from them until the signing period gets here in December.

Baker is a three-star quarterback who committed to the Vols in February, but he’s expected to rapidly climb the recruiting rankings this summer and fall as he returns to action after missing most of his junior season of high school football.

The Georgia native, in fact, was heavily praised for his performance at the Overtime OT7 Finals in Los Angeles this past weekend.

Other programs are reportedly giving Derrick Baker a lot to think about

Earlier this month, VolQuest’s Austin Price said on WNML’s Josh and Swain that he wouldn’t be surprised if things get “dicey” with Baker at some point.

“Derrick will be here this weekend for his official visit to Tennessee,” said Price. “Everybody’s going to keep swinging at that kid. That thing, to me, will probably get dicey at some point — because he’s going to play this fall. He didn’t play a lot, basically any, last year. And if he puts together really good tape, you’re going to see a quarterback-hungry team or two come calling and trying to pry him away. Especially if Faizon or George is as good as advertised. Because they are both going to be in basically in year one (as a starter).”

Baker told VolQuest a couple of days after those comments from Price that he’s “locked in” with Tennessee, but there’s still apparently some “chatter” that other programs are giving him a lot to think about.

“Behind the scenes, there is some chatter that some schools are giving him a lot to think about with his process,” noted 247Sports’ Tom Loy on Sunday. “Tennessee is doing a great job here, and he loves the Vols, but we’ll see if anyone can make him rethink things before all is said and done.”

Baker is solidly committed to the Vols for now. We’ll see if that’s still the case when the early signing period rolls around in December.