Former Western Kentucky running back Quinton Baker has been added to the Hilltoppers’ spring football roster, rejoining the program after playing last season at FCS-level Portland State.

Baker, listed as a redshirt junior on the roster released Friday, would have to receive an NCAA waiver to gain eligibility to play for WKU in the coming season after returning to the school as a transfer from Portland State. Without a waiver, Baker will have to sit out the 2019 season as a transfer.

An Ashland native, Baker made an instant impact for the Hilltoppers as a true freshman in 2016 when he earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors after ranking second on the team in rushing with 542 yards and four touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Baker also had eight catches for 43 yards.

Before his freshman season, Baker was arrested in April 2016 on several charges including operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and possession of marijuana.

Baker, along with teammates Tyler Obee and Xavier Lane, was suspended from playing in WKU’s 2017 season opener against Eastern Kentucky for his role in a March 2017 assault at a fraternity house on campus that left one man with injuries. Baker, Obee, Lane and former WKU football player Cecil Stallings were among seven men charged in the March 5 incident. Baker pleaded guilty to complicity to second-degree wanton endangerment and complicity to fourth-degree assault under extreme emotional distress.

Baker endured an injury-marred sophomore season, and he played in only seven games. He finished with 65 carries for 233 yards and one touchdown for a 3.6 yards-per-game average. He also had nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Baker was dismissed from WKU’s football team in April 2018 by then-coach Mike Sanford “due to consistent violation of team rules,” according to a school statement announcing the move.

Baker totaled 775 rushing yards on 164 carries in his two years at WKU.

Last season at Portland State, Baker appeared in two games for the Vikings and tallied just four carries.

Baker joins a WKU running backs group headlined by returning sophomore Joshua Samuels, a C-USA All-Freshman Team selection who tallied 641 rushing yards last season. Fellow sophomore Gino Appleberry, Jr. also returns along with redshirt sophomores Jakairi Moses and KeShawn McClendon and redshirt senior Marcelis Logan.

Baker is a familiar face to WKU’s revamped coaching staff under first-year head coach Tyson Helton. First-year offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis served on WKU’s 2016 staff as an offensive assistant before spending the past two seasons at Southern California.

The Hilltoppers will hold their first spring practice Tuesday. All 15 practices will be open to the public, culminating April 13 with the annual Red vs. White Spring Game at 2 p.m.{&end}