Meet the Gators: Q&A with Early Enrollee Willie Bailey
Thursday, February 9, 2012 | Football, Scott Carter
Editor's note: National Signing Day was last Wednesday and Gators coach Will Muschamp officially announced the 2012 recruiting class. Six members enrolled early, however, and began classes in January. GatorZone.com concludes its series on UF's early enrollees.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Willie Bailey's road from his hometown of Hallandale to Gainesville first went through Miami.
While at Hallandale, Bailey was heavily recruited by then-Hurricanes assistant Aubrey Hill, now a Gators assistant. Bailey originally committed to Miami but following his junior season he decided to join the Gators.
Bailey is a tall and rangy cornerback who is listed at 6-foot-2, 160 pounds. He was part of a talented Hallandale secondary last season that also included West Virginia early enrollee Sean Walters.
Here is our Q&A with Bailey:
Q: What was the key factor in you deciding to join the Gators?
A: Basically me fitting into the locker room and me fitting onto the team.
Q: What was your first impression of Coach Muschamp?
A: How excited he was and how intense he is about anything and everything.
Q: What is your most memorable moment playing football?
A: I would say probably me scoring my first touchdown. It was an interception return against Stranahan.
Q: Who had the most influence on your growing up?
A: My grandmother Annie because she actually raised me.
Q: When was the first time you realized you could be a Division I college football player?
A: My first year actually playing football in 10th grade, first year playing cornerback.
Q: What made it click in your head that it might be an option?
A: Just me having fun playing cornerback. It seemed like it was easy to me.
Q: How would you describe yourself as a player?
A: A physical cornerback.
Q: What is a talent other than football that we might not know about?
A: I'd say track.
Q: What do you do in track?
A: Triple jump and long jump.
