WVU football: Stedman Bailey on road back to NFL

The WVU football program will always take care of its own and that’s what is happening with Stedman Bailey.

A former star at wide receiver with the Mountaineers, Bailey saw his professional career shut down way too soon. He is so lucky, though, as he survived a gunshot wound to the head in 2015.

Almost three years later, he is back to playing shape and he hopes another professional team will give him a look like the Rams did when he left West Virginia after his junior season.

Bailey’s recovery and rehabilitation was well-documented and his road to this point has been a miracle. Bailey has taken some lumps as a professional and there have been some ups-and-downs with a suspension before the unfortunate shooting.

Bailey is not using his past transgressions as a crutch. He has no excuses and he only has the dream of getting back into the NFL. He certainly looks like he is in good playing shape and he ran well at the West Virginia Pro Day this week. He also participated in Marshall’s Pro Day earlier this month.

Anytime he can have an opportunity to showcase his skills is a chance that he has to become a professional again. Bailey has become a feel-good story in the world of sports and he wants to show that he is clean all-around and a legitimate football player. It is a true 30 for 30 tale.

With the WVU football team, Bailey had 210 receptions, 3,218 yards and 41 touchdowns according to WVUsports.com. He played three seasons and appeared in a total of 39 games — 13 each season.

With the Rams, Bailey caught 59 passes for 843 yards and two touchdowns, according to ESPN. It’s been almost three years since he has played in a NFL game and that kind of time off is enough to slow down any player.

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Having a good showing at these pro days will be a good sign for Bailey moving forward. No matter where he ends up, his WVU football family will always be behind him.