Saturday is a big day for Tennessee’s men’s basketball team, but the football program got some good news on Saturday afternoon before No. 1 Tennessee tipped off with No. 5 Kentucky in basketball.
Four-star defensive tackle/offensive guard Dominic Bailey was in Knoxville for the first time since July of last year this weekend, and while on his visit he announced his commitment to Tennessee.
I would like to thank all the coaches that have been recruiting me and all the people that have been behind me through this journey of finding the right institution to attend for 3-4 years of my life I am proud to announce that I have committed to THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE pic.twitter.com/WJ7JIS0nvp
— Dominic Bailey (@DominicBailey56) February 16, 2019
It should come as no surprise, but Tennessee tight ends coach and ace recruiter Brian Niedermeyer is Bailey’s primary recruiter for the Vols.
Bailey is rated as the No. 199 overall player and the No. 19 defensive tackle in the 2020 class. Right now, he’s listed as a defensive tackle, but it’s believed he’ll transition to an offensive guard this year and in college. He’s played both offense and defense for Wicomico High School, and he’s transferring to St. Francis Academy for his senior season.
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Tennessee extended an offer to Bailey back in April of 2018, and he took an unofficial visit to Knoxville a few months later in July. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound lineman also holds offers from Georgia, Florida, Penn State, Notre Dame, and others. The athletic big man also plays basketball.
Most of Bailey’s highlight film from his junior season has him on the defensive side of the ball, but the few plays that show him on offense show off his aggressiveness and strength. His play on defense does that too, and he has very good lower body strength that complements his upper body build. He’s a play-maker on defense, and it’ll be interesting to see if he stays on that side of the ball or switches to offense like he’s projected to do.
It remains to be seen if Bailey will be an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman in college, but either way he has a high ceiling. Tennessee has a big need along both lines of scrimmage in the 2020 class, so he helps fill a hole whichever side of the ball he plays on.
The Vols now have five commitments in their 2020 class. Bailey joins four-star quarterback Harrison Bailey, three-star wide receiver Antonio Barber, No. 1 long snapper Will Albright, and JUCO defensive end Jordan Davis.
