AUSTIN, Texas -- At Austin (Texas) Lake Travis, winning is just what they do these days and 2015 safety/outside linebacker James Bailey should help the Cavaliers do more of it in 2013.
2015 S/OLB James Bailey an Oklahoma State, SEC fan
The Lake Travis product is one to watch moving forward.
It’s still early in the process for many recruits in his class, but the 6’1, 180-pounder high school linebacker who reports 4.59 speed in the 40 is already receiving some interest, he told SB Nation Recruiting on Saturday at the Round Rock SQT.
Tulsa, Texas Tech, and Baylor have all stopped by the school to evaluate the collegiate safety/outside linebacker hybrid and he believes that the Golden Hurricane are close to offering.
College coaches like Bailey’s speed, aggressiveness on the field, and arm length, he said.
After seeing Bailey at a recent practice, Scout.com recruiting analysts Annabel Stephan and Kevin Flaherty were still raving days later about a resounding hit that he put on a teammate they were surprised didn’t knock the recipient out of practice. At 7-on-7, Bailey’s fluidity and ability to move explosively in space were evident, skills he will need as he makes the transition to the safety/hybrid linebacker position in college.
The offer that he really wants is from the Oklahoma State Cowboys because he grew up a fan of former wide receiver Justin Blackmon and his exploits in Stillwater. On the field, presumably.
Bailey says that he would like to make a difference on the defensive side of the ball like Blackmon made on offense. An offer would pique his “highest interest,” but he did say that he wouldn’t be willing to commit on the spot, instead opting to take more time with the process.
An offer from an SEC school sounds like it would be a different story, as he said he would probably end up going there, as he’s a fan of the defensive nature of the conference, but would have to play a pure safety position in that league since there aren’t as many spread offenses requiring defenses to employ hybrid players like Bailey.
A better fit is probably in the Big 12, but the Lake Travis product has his sights set on some prestigious camps this summer, preparing to hit Alabama, Oklahoma State, and Stanford.
It may take into his junior season before his recruitment really hits a high gear, but the camp stops will be important to show those coaches that he can play a different position than what he will be putting on film as a junior. With his striking ability and athleticism, however, it should only be a matter of time before he starts racking up offers.
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