Stedman Bailey – Mr. Consistency

When West Virginia opens it’s football season on Sept. 4 against Marshall, one player will have a new position, and a new number. Stedman Bailey made the move from the inside to outside receiver spot during the spring, and “Mr. Consistency” has picked up where he left off in 2010. More after the break.

Bailey(r-So.) is coming off a freshmen season where he was the teams fourth leading receiver catching 24 balls for  317 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Most remember Bailey’s 72 yards receiving in a comeback win against Marshall, his back of the endzone catch against Maryland, or his touchdown catch against N.C. State in the Champ Sports Bowl. (See picture)

Stedman played along side of Mountaineer single caller Geno Smith at Miramar High School in Florida, for coach Damon Cogdell, also a former Mountaineer.  All they did was win at Miramar, and they look to continue that success  in Morgantown.

During the spring he changed his number to 3, and also made the move to the outside. With the impressive play of slot receiver Tyler Urban, the move had to be made to get the best guys on the field.

“We moved Stedman Bailey outside because he and Tyler were playing the same spot and were in our opinion as a coaching staff, two of the top four guys,” Dana Holgorsen said. “So we moved Stedman out and he had a great practice and that means Tyler played a little bit more and he had a great practice.”

With Urban, Bailey, and Tavon Austin all on the inside, a move had to be made. Bailey has embraced the move that gives him more one on one opportunities with a corner, something he has no problem with.

“I’m loving it,” Bailey said. “Me and Eugene, we have a connection and if we see one-on-one we are going to take a shot.”

He continued…

“The only difference is I am back one-on-one with the cornerback.” Bailey said “In the inside I did a lot of bobbing and weaving through the defense. It’s being a threat on the outside, not that much of a difference because the ball is being thrown out there a lot too. It’s just the fact that I’m one-on-one with the corner, that’s the big difference.”

If the Gold Blue game was an indication of things to come, secondaries around the Big East better get ready. The sure handed receiver caught 6 balls for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns in the offensive explosion.

Bailey has continued his consistent play with the start of fall camp, with the weekly praise of head coach Dana Holgorsen.

That praise continued after the scrimmage last Saturday.

“Stedman Bailey made some really good plays,” Holgorsen stated after Saturday’s scrimmage. “He’s been playing really, really well.”

The introduction of Dana Holgorsen’s offense will provide opportunities for those numbers from last year go through the roof. We only hope the Mountaineer doesn’t run out of bullets.

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