Vol fans are excited about the future of Tennessee’s quarterback position. Not only is freshman Brian Maurer flashing potential with the Vols this season and showing reason for optimism for the future, but Tennessee’s 2020 quarterback commit has been putting together a strong senior season. That continued on Friday with another stellar performance.
Harrison Bailey, the four-star quarterback for Marietta High School who has been committed to UT since November of 2018, led the Blue Devils to a big 49-21 win over North Paulding on Friday night. North Paulding entered the game with a 5-0 record, and the game marked both school’s first region match-up of the season.
After exchanging blows for most of the first half, Bailey helped bust the game open right before halftime.
The four-star Vol commit found five-star athlete (and Vol target) Arik Gilbert deep down the field, and Gilbert ran it in the rest of the way for a 92-yard touchdown right before halftime. That gave Marietta a two-score lead going into halftime, and they wouldn’t look back.
To start the second half, Bailey found Gilbert again for another long touchdown, extending Marietta’s lead to 35-14.
Harrison Bailey @HBailey_05 to @arik_gilbert on the touchdown strike. The duo pick up right where they left off going into the half. pic.twitter.com/xcHVRxtawl
— Vol Recruiting Reports (@_VR2_) October 12, 2019
He would help add to the Blue Devils’ lead just a few minutes later, making a nice throw into the end zone to Gilbert again.
This is the most impressive play I have watched Bailey @HBailey_05 make in my opinion. Rides, rides, rides the buck sweep. Pulls, flips the hips, and the rest is history. I didn’t capture the entire play but a really nice RPO. pic.twitter.com/nHiNUsXs1O
— Vol Recruiting Reports (@_VR2_) October 12, 2019
Later, Bailey dished off a screen pass to running back Kimani Vidal, and the Troy commit dashed his way into the end zone for another Marietta touchdown.
Excellent execution on this screen pass from @HBailey_05 to @kimanividal for 6! pic.twitter.com/YPv6CD0BrF
— Vol Recruiting Reports (@_VR2_) October 12, 2019
Bailey finished the game completing 19 of his 23 pass attempts for 410 yards and totaled seven touchdowns. One of those scores was a rushing touchdown. Bailey’s top target, Arik Gilbert, finished with nine catches for 207 yards and three scores.
Marietta is now 5-1 and 1-0 in district play this season, putting them atop the standings for now. So far this season, Bailey is filling up the stat sheet. He’s completed 112 of his 183 passes (61.2 percent) for 1,801 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Bailey has also run for 115 yards and two scores on 32 carries.
The Vols’ commit is ranked as the No. 129 overall prospect and No. 3 pro-style quarterback in the 2020 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Bailey committed to the Vols back on November 29th, choosing UT over Michigan and others.
Bailey and his Blue Devil teammates will be back in action next Friday, October 18th when they host McEachern for another region game.
