Florida head coach Billy Napier comments on adding former Tennessee Vols quarterback to the Gators' roster
Earlier this offseason, the Florida Gators added former Tennessee Vols quarterback Harrison Bailey to their roster via the NCAA transfer portal. Bailey, a former four-star recruit from Marietta, GA, signed with Tennessee during the 2020 recruiting cycle. The Georgia native started his career with the Vols during Jeremy Pruitt's final season as the program's head […]
Earlier this offseason, the Florida Gators added former Tennessee Vols quarterback Harrison Bailey to their roster via the NCAA transfer portal.
Bailey, a former four-star recruit from Marietta, GA, signed with Tennessee during the 2020 recruiting cycle.
The Georgia native started his career with the Vols during Jeremy Pruitt's final season as the program's head coach. Bailey then entered the NCAA transfer portal midway through Josh Heupel's first season (2021) as Tennessee's head coach.
Bailey spent the 2022 season at UNLV before re-entering the NCAA transfer portal and eventually landing at Louisville for two seasons.
With one season of eligibility remaining, Bailey re-entered the NCAA transfer portal after the 2024 season and he surprisingly landed at Florida.
With DJ Lagway entrenched as the starting quarterback at Florida, Bailey will serve in a backup role in Gainesville — which is a role that Gators head coach Billy Napier says the former Vol has "embraced".
“I think we wanted to add a player that has some experience, that played in games, he kind of fit that profile,” said Napier recently of adding Bailey to the roster. “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 in 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 a good pedigree. He’s a good add to the team.”
“We got two good young players and obviously DJ coming back, so I think he embraced that,” added Napier. “It’s kind of like when you got Michael Jordan, nobody wants to be Scottie Pippen.”
Oddly enough, Bailey's first career collegiate start came against Florida late in the 2020 season (a game the Gators won 31-19).
Bailey has passed for 1,190 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions in his college career. He also has two career rushing touchdowns (including one as a Vol during the 2021 season).
