How Vols QB recruit can spark turnaround
A staff change to his future position coach didn’t cause quarterback Harrison Bailey to shy away from committing to Tennessee.
Bailey decided he wanted to play for the Vols a couple weeks ago, and he didn’t waver from that decision even after UT’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tyson Helton departed this week for Western Kentucky’s head coaching job.
“He felt a connection with Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt,” said Rich Morgan, Bailey’s high school coach.
“I think he feels a good connection to the talent that they’re bringing in there. Tennessee is a great place. It ain’t going to take long to turn it around, and I think he realizes he can be a part of something special, turning that thing around and trying to lead them to championships.”
Bailey, a junior, is a four-star prospect at Marietta High School in Georgia.
He announced his commitment on Thursday, choosing Tennessee over Michigan, his other finalist. He became the fourth player committed to Tennessee’s 2020 class.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Bailey has been Marietta’s starting quarterback since his freshman season.
As a junior, he completed 212 of 335 passes (63.3 percent) for 2,809 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions, according to MaxPreps.
“Very big and strong in the pocket with a huge arm, understands the defense,” Morgan said. “(He) delivers the ball quickly, on time, to his receivers and with great accuracy. Just has all the tools, and he’s got great arm strength, and he’s a great leader. He’s got everything that a team needs to build around.”
Coming to Tennessee would offer Bailey a chance to reconnect with teammate Ramel Keyton.
Keyton, a four-star wide receiver, is among the 20 players committed to Tennessee’s 2019 class. Keyton had 184 receptions for 3,353 yards and 33 touchdowns during his Marietta career, according to MaxPreps.
“They have a definite connection, so I think that’s a good comfort level,” Morgan said, “but I don’t think (Bailey) would choose a school because of what other people’s opinions are, but I think it’s definitely going to be an attribute for him when he’s there to have a familiar face around him.”
Georgia has proved to be fertile recruiting ground for Pruitt.
Although Bailey is the first Georgia high school player committed to the Vols’ 2020 class, eight players from Georgia high schools are committed to UT’s 2019 class.
“They’re getting commitments from some of the best players in the entire state of Georgia,” Morgan said.