21 Chuy Baca

Growing up in the Hype Park neighborhood 7 miles south of the Chicago Loop, Chuy had a rough upbringing. The opportunity to join gangs was prevalent growing up on the southside. His parents were immigrants from Honduras and did all they could to instill education into their son. Chuy’s parents are teachers at the University of Chicago in the Law School. He was always wanting to learn more and was a prototypical book worm. He loved playing the piano and was part of his local church. He never really had a care for sports. He enjoyed watching the Chicago Bears with his father or catching a Honduras soccer game on the Tv or when the English Premier League would come to Chicago to Solider Field. Football was not really in his blood. He went to Kenwood Academy High School for his freshman year in High School and was 5’8″ scrawny kid. His Sophomore year was a different story. He was playing soccer for Kenwood academy and was spotted by Jordan Lynch (yeah that QB from NIU) and was asked about playing football for the dominate Mount Carmel Caravan. Chuy told his parents, who all they cared about what the education level at Mount Carmel. His father was happy of course, being on a Mount Carmel squad with chances to play in Champaign for state titles. He committed and did not look back. Graduated top of his class. Valedictorian of his class and led Mount Carmel with a new found love of a sport he only watched. Leading the team in pass deflections and interceptions in his senior year. This is a late bloomer to football, but can he do it in college? That is the biggest question.