2020 QB Harrison Bailey announcing commitment today at 2:45

Submitted by Gentleman Squirrels on November 29th, 2018 at 10:16 AM

As the title says, Harrison Bailey is announcing his commitment today at 2:45pm. He's deciding between Michigan and Tennessee and was supposed to be a heavy Michigan lean until at least last night. However, a bunch of crystal balls came in for Tennessee last night and now they have the lead. Not sure how much credence to give to that, but Bailey is probably the staff's top QB target for this class so hopefully he ends up in the maize and blue!

detrocks

November 29th, 2018 at 10:53 AM ^

General thought is that it's either Tennessee or Michigan.  While Michigan may have been leading, Tennessee has always been close and is selling a new coach and pretty wide open depth chart.  Their OC did just leave to become the HC at Western Kentucky, so it's unclear how that impacts his decision.

One interesting things that was mentioned is that he may be thinking about reclassifying into the 2019 class. IMO, if he wants to do that, he's almost certainly going to Tennessee. Tennessee's starting QB was a SO this year and was decent.  There's not much behind him-- one other SO and a true FR, both of whom were middle-of-the road three stars.

If we wants to go 2019, he'll have a pretty favorable depth chart at UT, compared to Michigan where even after an RS year, he could potentially be looking at 2 years of McCaffery, 3 years of Milton and directly competing with McNamara.

While he's a great prospect and it would suck to lose him, given our current QB room and the fact that it's a long time before 2020 signing day, I wouldn't sweat it if he chooses UT.

Mr Miggle

November 29th, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^

If UT is selling him on coming in as a 2019 recruit, that's a great move by them. I can't see us doing the same thing as another QB is not part of the plan for this class. Even if he doesn't reclassify, it shows how much UT needs/wants him and contrasts their depth chart to ours.

Fwiw, Beilein wanted Iggy to reclassify up a class too.

Leaders And Best

November 29th, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^

So how do you explain Tennessee getting blown out by Vanderbilt & Missouri to end the season and missing out on a bowl in Year 1 for Pruitt? Does that fit the narrative? Las Vegas had set the win total at 5.5 for Tennessee and 9 for Michigan before the season? So which team (or both or none) underachieved this year?

It sounds like Tennessee has been selling him on reclassifying and enrolling in 2019 which would not be an option at Michigan. That may have been the game-changer in the recruitment, but we will see. Kind of weird that a 2020 QB would commit now to a school without an OC as well. Wouldn't you want to see who was hired for that position and the relationship you have with him?

Arb lover

November 29th, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^

If you aren't up on 2020 recruits, here's Harrison Bailey's 247 page his Rivals info which is essentially the same but grants him 3 extra pounds and grades him as the #2 pro qb instead of 3. 

Espn again in the clouds has him at 6-5 and 229 lbs but way down in their rankings at the #9 pro-style qb, but I'm not even going to link ESPN.

He has offers from most everyone who is anyone, with possible exceptions of Clemson, ND and Stanford/USC if you want to go that low, though some of those offers might be less than full (LSU already has two 2020 pro qb commits in Max Johnson and T.J. Finley- that might change, Bama has a commit from 2020 recruit Carson Beck, OSU with Jack Miller, and ND with Drew Pyne)

The only 2020 pro style recruit who everyone has ahead of Bailey is D.J. Uiagalelei, who looks like he's probably going Clemson or USC. Either way, Harrison Bailey is an outstanding QB with a lot of potential, and he would be an awesome get for Harbaugh. 

He has some recruiting videos as well here.

scfanblue

November 29th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^

Michigan has McCaffrey and Milton lined up with McNamara in the wings. This kid ran the full spread at Marietta and may not want to join a 1980's type heavy TE 2 man routes offense. It also slowed Patterson down considerably from what he did at Ole Miss. 

LeCheezus

November 29th, 2018 at 11:35 AM ^

This is such a terrible take.  Patterson threw a crap ton more INT's at Ole Miss and got pounded every other play against every pass rush with a pulse, culminating in a season ending knee injury against LSU.  He also was basically running a wristband offense with a pre snap and a post snap read.  Basically all of his yards came against crap teams at Ole Miss. 

But you're right, he would have thrown for more yards so being at Michigan definitely slowed him down!

1VaBlue1

November 29th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^

It sucks, but there are reasons if you cared to look.  Sometimes, it's not all about the uniform colors (although in this case, it should be - that UTenn orange is just fucking hideous).  They have virtually zero depth chart and a generally positive upwards trend from where they were pre-Pruitt.  If UTenn is talking that up, good for them.

Besides, if not UM, UTenn is better than Bama, OSU, Clemson, or a host of other 'top' schools.  At least at UTenn we won't have to worry about him nationally - they have a ways to go before getting out of any SEC divisional race...

lhglrkwg

November 29th, 2018 at 12:03 PM ^

I get not picking Michigan.....but why pick Tennessee?

I thought Michigan had a long period of darkness. Tennessee's is so long that I'm wondering if they'll ever be elite again or if they'll just be Nebraska-ish with their glory days long behind them

Wolverine Devotee

November 29th, 2018 at 12:32 PM ^

Perfectly fine if he goes to Tennessee. 

We need to be recruiting dual threat QBs. It's time to step into modern football.

Mongo

November 29th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^

His Hudl page shows the following NIKE combine stats:

  • 6ft 5in / 220lbs
  • 40 time = 5.15
  • Shuttle = 4.57
  • Vertical = 28.6
  • Powerball = 34
  • Overall Rating = 68.76

This guy is not very athletic. Watching his film it is hard to see him as a 5-star given his big frame but only average arm strength.  Reminds me of Speight coming out of high school. Harrison had tons of early interest with offers all the way back to 8th grade (Alabama, Clemson, etc), but that interest seems to have waned.  Maybe his best committable offer is UT.

Trader Jack

November 29th, 2018 at 1:01 PM ^

Stop. His Michigan offer is committable and this isn't a mutual thing. You don't have to disparage a recruit just because he doesn't pick your favorite school. Bailey is very highly ranked, has many committable offers, and it sounds like he just prefers Tennessee.