Edison’s Chester Baah Commits to Hurricane

Plenty of homegrown talent laces the University of Tulsa football roster. More will be added next year when Edison’s Chester Baah puts on the blue, crimson and gold.

A senior offensive lineman who stands 6-3 and weighs 290 pounds, Baah committed to TU early last month.

“They have a great education just right down the street,” Baah said. “Which is also good for me and my family because we get to see each other and I can go through this process with the people who helped me here, and, I can still come back and support my high school. Education was a big part of my decision.”

Baah chose TU over Navy, UCO, Texas State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, South Dakota State, Western Illinois and Pittsburg State.

Another former Edison Eagle, Marcus Mayes, is already at TU, and Baah keeps in touch with him.

Baah actually grew up a soccer fan and didn’t start with the gridiron until four years ago.

“I had to learn everything about the game,” he said. Once he started, he learned fast.
When he got interested in the game, Baah loved college football the most and was a fan of RGIII (Robert Griffin III) at Baylor. But, he did attend a few TU games. When it comes to the NFL, Baah likes the New England Patriots.

Baah, who plays right guard on the line and will be a three-year starter this year, claims the Washington Redskins’ Trent Williams, a former OU player, and the Dallas Cowboys’ Tyron Smith as his favorite offensive lineman in the NFL. His favorite defensive lineman is Vince Woolfork, although he is retired.

For now, Baah is focused on helping the Green and White at Edison make the playoffs after a 4-6 finish last season.  

“This year, our team will be pretty good,” he said. “We’ve always had athletes. We just haven’t come together and play as a team. But this year you will see on the sidelines that we are a brotherhood coming together for one purpose, to win games. You won’t see what it was like in the past. We’re definitely a team right now.”

Of course, Baah is expected to be a force for Edison this season.

“I’ve played mostly offensive line, but I’ve been developing my defensive line skills more. So, this year, I’ll be starting both ways to help my team out,” he said.  

Getting to protect the quarterback is what Baah likes most about being an offensive lineman, he said.

“When I’m on the o-line, I imagine myself being in the running back or the receivers’ shoes, making sure somebody is blocking for me to get the ball and advance,” Baah said. “I have the mindset, ‘what I want somebody to do for me in my position?’ So, I try to block as hard as I can for the quarterback, running back, receivers, just so we can move the ball down the field and win the game.

“My favorite block is the run-block because you actually get to pancake somebody. You get to hit people without getting in trouble and that’s the best part,” he added.

When he graduates and moves on to TU, Baah intends to return to Edison to help the younger guys, “because I know when I came here, I had to learn how to play. I was not in good condition. I was not strong at all,” he said. “The coaches built me up mentally and physically. They built me up slowly and got me stronger and I am now in position to be able to go to college for free, which is amazing. I also have to keep my end in the classroom by not getting in trouble and keeping good grades.”

Going back to the upcoming season, Baah hopes not to miss a block this year and give up zero sacks.

“I don’t think I gave up a sack last year,” he said. “As a unit, I want us to be the best o-line in the state.

“This year, our main focus is gold ball or bust, which means we’re here to win state,” Baah added.

Updated 08-14-2018