It was a happy homecoming at Tropicana Field at Monday’s East-West Shrine Game practice for Kentucky cornerback Derrick Baity, who played at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa. After helping the Wildcats to a 10-3 record, the school’s best finish since 1977, and a bowl win over Penn State, Baity is back home in the Tampa Bay area as he embarks on his quest to play in the NFL.

“It feels good to be recognized for what I did during the season,” said Baity, who plays for the East squad. “I was selected to be here and it felt good to come home. My family is definitely coming out for the game, so I’m ready to put on a show for them.”

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback teamed with Lonnie Johnson to help shut down opposing receivers and finished his career with 148 tackles, 25 pass breakups, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. While Johnson was selected to the more prestigious Senior Bowl next week, Baity doesn’t feel snubbed to be invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game, which is typically the college all-star game that features middle- and late-round picks.

Kentucky CB Derrick Baity – Photo by: UK

“They made their pick,” Baity said. “I congratulate Lonnie. He and I talk every day and I’m proud of him.

“With Lonnie you are going to check his body type and you are going to love him. You are going to fall in love with his athleticism. He’s going to run, he’s going to jump and he’s going to do everything. One more thing that he’s going to bring is the grit to get better. He’s going to bring a grit to your defense.”

Baity says he has plenty to offer an NFL team, too.

“With me you’re going to get a lock down corner, a guy that is going to go up and put his hands on receivers,” Baity said. “You’re going to get a playmaker and someone who is going to bring energy and pizzazz to the team. You’re going to get someone you want and someone who is a winner.”

Baity had offers to stay locally in the state of Florida coming out of Plant High School, but wanted to branch out.

“I didn’t want to stay in Florida,” Baity said. “I wanted some new scenery and I wanted to go to the SEC and play on a big stage. The SEC and playing on a bigger stage played a role because I want to go to the NFL. Being able to come in and play early also played a significant role in me going to Kentucky.”

While at Kentucky he helped turn the Wildcats program around. After going 5-7 during his freshman season, Baity, first-team SEC running back Benny Snell, Jr. and All-American linebacker Josh Allen and others helped produce three straight winning seasons for Kentucky. A pair of 7-6 seasons were followed by a breakthrough 10-3 campaign last year.

“We know the history behind Kentucky where they were good before and then they had a lull,” Baity said. “We wanted to be the team that turned it around. We had a lot of seniors – guys that were going to get drafted and go to the East-West Shrine and the Senior Bowl – and we were the guys that did it.”

One of the landmark victories in Kentucky’s magical 2018 season was the Wildcats’ 27-16 win over Florida, which ended the nation’s longest losing streak between two teams. The Gators had beaten the Wildcats for 31 straight years before falling at home to Kentucky at home. That was special for a Florida native like Baity.

“To end the streak was one thing because we kept getting backlash about how the streak will never end,” Baity said. “Then to do it in The Swamp – it was our guys versus the world. That made it even more special.”

Snell rushed for 175 yards against the Gators and stepped up as the Wildcats’ offensive star.

“That’s one thing that our seniors pushed Benny to do – we needed him to step up in a major way,” Baity said about Snell, who is considered to be a mid-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. “He knew if the offense wasn’t going that he had to be the guy to get them going. He took it on as a challenge. He carried us and we helped him on defense.

“He’s a big back who is deceptively fast, I’ll give him that. You can’t one-arm tackle him. You may be able to get him down with a shoestring tackle. He’s tough to bring down and he will drag you.”

Speaking of tackling, that’s an area that Baity wants to work on as he transitions to the next level.

Kentucky CB Derrick Baity – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I need to continue to improve on my tackling,” Baity said. “What I want to work on personally – and I felt that way today in our one-on-one drills because I started off sluggish – is taking the coaching and getting used to it so I can be comfortable. If I need to change my technique I want to do it so I get it down pat and I’m comfortable.”

Although he’s a Tampa native, Baity didn’t grow up a Buccaneers fan, but would love to suit up at home in red and pewter.

“I didn’t watch football growing up,” Baity said. “I was always playing outside, climbing trees and busting my head open. I started playing football at age 5 – I always played my whole life. I would rather play it than watch it.”

With Brent Grimes moving on after this past season, Tampa Bay is in need of another cornerback this year despite drafting Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart in the second round last April. Baity told PewterReport.com that he’s already met with Bucs scouts over in St. Petersburg.

“Just being drafted and being in the NFL is my childhood dream,” Baity said. “Getting drafted by the Bucs and staying in my hometown would be great – I would never have to worry about my mom or my kids because they are here. That would mean a lot to me to stay in Tampa Bay.”