NFL draft preview: Miami DE Bailey
It wouldn’t be a surprise if nine defensive ends were drafted by NFL teams in the first round this year.
Miami’s Allen Bailey is not expected to be one of them. He’ll go sometime on Day Two of the draft, when the second and third rounds will be conducted.
But whoever gets Bailey will get a rock-solid 6-foot-3 physical specimen who is ripped at 285 pounds and is best described as “country strong.”
He should be. Bailey is about as “country” as you can get. He was also one of the most entertaining players among the 330 at the Scouting Combine.
Bailey was raised in the village of Hog Hammock on Sapelo Island, 15 miles off the coast of Georgia. The island is reachable only by ferry, so it was 30 minutes on water and another 15 by bus to get to high school. Since the last ferry back to the island left at 5:30 p.m., and Bailey was still at football or basketball practice in the fall and winter, he spent most of those nights at the homes of friends or relatives.
“This kid really has had to go out of his way to become a football star,” high school talent evaluator and college recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said when Bailey was a senior. “The kid looks like he’s ready for the pros.”
Bailey was an hulking 255 pounds even back then, earning two of his favorite nicknames, “Billy Biceps,” and “Popeye.” He says he has about seven nicknames.
Asked to verify that the population of the island was 47, Bailey quickly corrected the questioner.
“Probably 65,” he said. “People have passed away, others have moved in and out.” About half of them are related to Bailey.
Getting a football game together at home wasn’t as difficult as it might seem.
“I’ve got three brothers and three sisters,” he said.
How many kids are there on the island?
Bailey paused to count them one-by-one in his head.
“About 20,” he said.
Bailey’s strength is holding the point of attack vs. the run, and he played a bit inside at tackle, but left end will be his best position in the NFL, although he could also play the 5 technique in a 3-4 defense.
Bailey runs the 40 in the low 4.7s and has a 36-inch vertical jump. He gets knocked because of average instincts and awareness and for being somewhat stiff and not getting off blocks as well as others.
“My hands need work sometimes, getting off blocks and attacking blockers,” said Bailey, who listed his strong points as, “Being strong at the point of attack, supporting the running game and making an effort on every play.”
In his final three years at Miami, Bailey had 19 sacks and 31 other tackles for negative yardage, using brute strength, extra effort and a high-revving motor, characteristics that NFL teams value.
Despite his chiseled 285 pounds, he was asked at the Combine if there were any teams that inquired about him playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.
“Losing weight is possible,” he said, “but it’d be hard, because there ain’t much fat to lose.”
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