It appears that Florida football finally found its final backup quarterback for the 2025 campaign. After a false start with previous signee Deshawn Purdie, who was granted his release from his paperwork last week, the Gators have opted to bring in former Lousiville Cardinal [autotag]Harrison Bailey[/autotag] into the fold.
A redshirt senior originally out of Marietta, Georgia, Bailey has already attended three different schools over the course of his collegiate career. He started things off with the Tennessee Volunteers out of high school before spending a year with the Nevada Las Vegas Rebels, after which he landed with the Cardinals.
Bailey has one year of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-5-inch, 230-pound passer played in six games during his true freshman year in 2020 while limited to just one in 2021 with the Vols for a total of three starts. He logged six appearances with UNLV in his lone season out in the desert before playing one and five games in Louisville, respectively, the past two years.
Gator fans may remember Bailey in one of those starts for UT against Florida in 2020, when the Orange and Blue beat Tennessee in Knoxville, 31-19. He went 14-for-21 for 111 yards and a touchdown but was sacked five times in the loss.
During his four years on the collegiate gridiron, Bailey has completed 108 of 171 passes for 1,190 yards and 10 touchdowns against three interceptions over the course of 19 games. Last season, he finished 24-for-33 — good enough for a 71% clip through the air — passing along with 278 yards and four TDs.
Bailey’s experience should provide ample depth in Florida’s quarterback room behind incumbent starter DJ Lagway.
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