Quarterback was a position Florida prioritized in the transfer portal after having to use three signal callers more than 125 snaps in the 2024 season. The Gators added four-star freshman Tramell Jones but wanted somebody with experience that could backup rising sophomore DJ Lagway in 2025.
Enter Louisville transfer Harrison Bailey, who committed to UF on January 20th after taking an official visit to Florida. Bailey was a highly touted high school prospect out of Marietta, Georgia, who has played for Tennessee, UNLV, and Louisville across five seasons in college football. Bailey was able to get a 6th year of eligibility due to his 2020 Covid season.
Bailey has completed 108 of 171 passes (63.1%) for 1,190 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing three interceptions in his career. The 6’5, 230-pound quarterback hasn’t logged very many starts, but is coming off a start in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, where he was named MVP for throwing three touchdown passes and zero interceptions.
“I think we wanted to add a player that has some experience, that played in games, he kind of fit that profile,” head coach Billy Napier said on Bailey’s addition. “I think Harrison has played a lot of football, he’s prepared as a starter or backup a lot of weeks, so I think he’s played some good systems, there’s a ton of carry over there, and the guy spins the ball well, he’s an athlete, intelligent, quarterback that’s got good pedigree. He’s a good add to the team.”
Having to recruit a veteran quarterback to backup a sophomore in DJ Lagway was no easy task, as seen by the Deshaun Purdie situation. Bailey has embraced the backup role at UF, which not only comes with the potential for playing time, but an opportunity to serve as a leader for younger quarterbacks in the room.
“We got two good young players and obviously DJ [Lagway] coming back, so I think he embraced that,” Napier said on Bailey. “It’s kind of like when you got Michael Jordan, nobody wants to be Scottie Pippen.”
Stay tuned at Gator Country for more exclusive updates from the Senior Bowl.