27   Matt Bakker

Class: Senior Hometown: Middleville, Mich. High School: South Christian

Height / Weight: 6-1 / 210 Position: FS Experience: 3L

2009: All-GLIAC Second-Team performer...Academic All-GLIAC honoree...Named GVSU Most Improved Defensive Player...Played in all 15 games with eight starts...Earned third varsity letter...Key member of a defense that ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense (16.9 ppg) and ninth in rushing defense (90.5 ypg)...Ranked seventh on team in total tackles with 56 (24 solo/32 assisted)...Recorded four tackles for loss (-18) and one QB sack (-9)...Tallied four pass deflections and picked off one pass...Recorded six tackles vs. Saginaw Valley State (9/12)...Tallied four tackles with a QB sack (-9) and a tackle for loss at Michigan Tech (9/26)...Tallied four total tackles and picked off a pass vs. Carson-Newman (12/5) in semifinals...Notched a career-high nine tackles vs. NW Missouri State (12/12) in National Championship game.

2008: Played in all 12 games with two starts at safety...Earned second varsity letter...Tallied 29 total tackles (16 solo/13 assisted) and picked off one pass...Key performer on the Lakers' special teams...Tallied a career-high seven total tackles at Saginaw Valley State (9/13/) and vs. Michigan Tech (9/27)...Recorded three tackles and picked off a pass vs. Hillsdale (10/11).

2007: Earned first varsity letter after seeing action in nine games as a reserve...Tallied four solo and six assisted tackles for a total of 10...Recorded a career-high three tackles and notched a pass deflection vs. Northern Michigan (11/10).

2006: Redshirted.

High School:Prepped at Grand Rapids South Christian HighSchool...Rushed for 1,097 yards and 18 TDs on 150 carries as a senior...Notched 117 tackles as a defensive back...Named to the GrandRapids Press Dream Team as a senior...Earned Associated Press ClassB All-State plaudits...First-team All-O.K. Conference and all-area performerfor a team that finished 9-3...Tallied 1,420 rushing yards and12 TDs on 180 carries as a junior...Hauled in seven catches for 178yards and one TD...Recorded 108 tackles and two picks...Named tothe Grand Rapids Press All-Area team...Earned All-O.K. Conferenceand all-area honors...Team finished 11-2...Rushed for a school-record3,240 yards during his career...Recorded 253 career tackles...Teamwas 28-8 during prep career...Played on state championship basketballteam and is the school record holder in the 400m run.

Personal: Son of Doug and Lynne Bakker.