Frankie Baca Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M. High School: La Cueva HS Height / Weight: 6-0 / 199 Position: Safety Birthdate: 02/27/1987 Experience: 2005-09

NEW MEXICO:

Durable, productive defensive back who played both safety and corner and was a special teams standout throughout his 50-game career...saw action in every Lobo game from 2006-10...was one of the first safeties off the bench in 2008 and became a starter (11 games) for the first time in his career in 2009 after fellow senior Ian Clark's career came to a close (shoulder injury)...improved his pass coverage and was a physical, big hitter in the secondary...outstanding tackler in the open field...recorded 122 career tackles, along with 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles...played almost exclusively on special teams his first two seasons...saw defensive action for the first time in his career in 2007, coming off the bench for spot duty at CB...redshirted the 2005 season.

2009 (SENIOR): Turned in a career-year after stepping into the starting lineup for the first time in his career in week 2 when he replaced injured Ian Clark...5th on the team with 66 tackles (37 solo), including 2 assisted TFLs (1.0 total), and an interception in 12 games (11 starts)...2 pass break-ups and a forced fumble as well...was still a regular on special teams too...team captain in week 5 at Texas Tech.

`09 HIGHLIGHTS:
vs. Colorado State...Got in on 3 tackles and intercepted a third down pass to the end zone to kill a long CSU drive in the 3rd quarter...it was his first pick in over 2 years...did not allow any long completions in coverage.

at Wyoming...Solid effort with 7 tackles (4 solo), including a forced fumble...also broke up a pass.

vs. Air Force...Career-high 11 tackles, including 1 in the backfield.

vs. Tulsa...7 tackles - all solo stops - in his first career start.

2008 (JUNIOR): Appeared in all 12 games as one of the first safeties off the bench and in his usual role on all four special teams units...smashed his career-high with 37 tackles (18 solo)...also had a PBU...career-high 6 stops in the opener vs. TCU.

2007 (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 13 games...was a heat-seeking missile in kick and punt coverage, leading the team with 13 special teams tackles, including several big hits in the open field...teammates voted him co-Special Teams Player of the Year along with consensus All-America kicker John Sullivan...also saw defensive action for the first time in his career, coming off the bench to play cornerback at Arizona and Sacramento State (14 snaps)...was thrown into the fire in his first defensive appearance, playing the final 8 snaps in place of injured Jerome Jenkins in the Lobos' 29-27 upset victory at Arizona...recorded his first career interception (6-yard return) the next week vs. Sacramento State (14 snaps)...15 tackles on the year (10 solo).

2006 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Appeared in all 13 games, exclusively on special teams...finished with 4 tackles.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2005 graduate of Albuquerque La Cueva HS...unanimous first team all-state running back who rushed for 2,076 yards and 32 TDs for the undefeated (13-0) state champs as a senior in 2004...averaged 10.5 yards per carry and caught 8 passes for 244 yards...was also a first team all-state cornerback as a senior...had 30 tackles and an interception...played for head coach Fred Romero...the Bears also won the 2003 state title with a perfect 13-0 mark...they were state champs in baseball in 2004 and `05, including a national prep record 70-game winning streak...Baca played in the outfield and pitched...also an accomplished wrestler, finishing third in the state as a sophomore at 152 lbs., and second during his junior year at 171 lbs...he attended Albuquerque's Cibola HS his first two years.

PERSONAL: Born Feb. 27, 1987, in Las Vegas, N.M...age is 21...son of Frank and Tracy Baca...father is a police officer...has a brother, Marcus (16), and sister, Haley (18)...major is University Studies.