Bailey is BC’s new top option in the backfield
Eagles open the season at Duke today
Boston College junior tailback David Bailey can take the fun out of playing defense.
“He’s the type of guy who can wear you down, he’s hard to tackle,” said BC first-year head coach Jeff Hafley. “When you have to bring that guy to the ground over and over again it’s not going to be fun on defense.
“He is a great kid and a great person and I’m excited to see him go.”
The 6-foot, 236-pound Bailey was placed on the Doak Walker Award watch list for his accomplishments last season as an understudy to AJ Dillon, who was taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
Dillon, the Eagles’ alltime rushing leader and a three-time first team AllACC running back, was a Walker semifinalist last season. Andre Williams is the last BC back to win the Doak Walker Award, doing so in 2013.
Bailey will begin his tenure as BC’s featured back when the Eagles visit the Duke Blue Devils at noon Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C.
“I don’t want to compare him to AJ, but he’s big and strong and he can move and for a big guy, he can move laterally with quick feet and his vision and he can catch the ball out of the backfield,” said Hafley.
Despite sharing duties with Dillon, who led the ACC with 1,685 yards, Bailey enjoyed a breakout year in 2019, earning All-ACC honorable mention last season averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Bailey played in 13 games and rushed for 844 yards and seven touchdowns on 148 carries.
Bailey learned a lot from Dillon’s slashing power style, but he is ready to forge is own identity under new management.
“From AJ and the other running backs, I am learning the game of football even more,” said Bailey. “Now I’m coming in being a leader, reading the defenses and giving it up for the O-line.
“Part of being a running back is learning things from other players on the team. That’s helped me become a leader and learning the game of football over again.”
Bailey looks to expand his sphere of influence in the multiple pro set schemes instituted by offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti. Bailey can be an asset to either quarterback Dennis Grosel or Phil Jurkovec in several ways once the season gets started.
Bailey only caught 10 passes a year ago, so that’s an area for improvement if he is to be a three-down back.
“I’m just always working every day and the coaching staff is doing a great job with our new offense we’ve put in,” said Bailey. “Our new offense helps the running backs become great receivers in the pass game and is helping me become an all-around complete back.”