When Byron Baldwin committed to IU just over a month ago, he didn’t appear in any of the national rankings.
But when 247Sports’ 2025 college football recruiting rankings updated Wednesday, he became one of a number of “players on the rise.”
How far?
From unranked, to a 4-star and one of the overall top-250 players in the class according to that outlet.
The massive bump makes Baldwin the highest rated player in Indiana’s 2025 class. The still developing eight-player class is currently ranked 34th nationally at 247Sports.
Here’s what 247Sports wrote about Baldwin when announcing his bump in the rankings.
“A legit 6-foot defensive back with a wing pushing 6-foot-6, Baldwin is a volume tackler with strong athletic profile that includes wrestling and triple jump.”
A Baltimore, Md. product, Baldwin attends Calvert Hall College, where he produced 89 tackles, two interceptions, four pass break-ups, and two forced fumbles as a junior.
The 6-foot and 195-pound Baldwin had several Power Four offers including Kentucky, Rutgers, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Boston College, Syracuse, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Expected to play safety in college, Baldwin appears to have made a significant impression at an Under Armour Camp in his home state of Maryland over the weekend. Here’s what 247 Sports said about his performance at that event.
“Baldwin has plenty of fans behind the scenes at 247Sports and looked the part throughout his individual workout and 1-on-1 session on Sunday earning defensive back MVP honors from the UA Camp staff. Baldwin did not look out of place working at corner, which speaks to his versatility as a coverage defender considering the 6-foot-0.5 athlete primarily operates from depth at the prep level. The Indiana commit is a smooth mover who can effectively mirror opposing wide receivers with ease before quickly breaking on the ball. In the rare moments where Baldwin was beaten off the line of scrimmage, he quickly recovered showcasing ideal recovery speed before utilizing late hands to make plays on the ball. All in all, it was another impressive showing for Baldwin who earned Top Performer honors for the second consecutive year at the UA Baltimore camp.”
Defensive backs are currently the featured position group in IU’s 2025 class. Florida-based Chris McCorkle is the 30th best cornerback in the 2025 class according to 247Sports, and the second-highest rated player in the Indiana class.
The Hoosiers will likely have to continue to recruit both players all the way through the early signing period in December. McCorkle already has multiple visits set up elsewhere in June.
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