Former Tennessee quarterback announces transfer to Louisville.
Former Tennessee quarterback Harrison Bailey announced his transfer to Louisville on Thursday.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound quarterback played at Tennessee from 2020-21.
He played at UNLV in 2022 after transferring from Tennessee.
Bailey appeared in seven games for the Vols, totaling 594 passing yards and five total touchdowns. He started the final three games in 2020 as a true freshman.
Bailey signed with the Vols as a four-star prospect from Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia. Bailey was the No. 66 overall prospect and No. 4 quarterback in the class of 2020, according to On3’s industry rankings.
Tennessee’s 2022 regular-season schedule features home games against Ball State, Akron, Florida, Alabama, UT Martin, Kentucky and Missouri.
The Vols’ 2022 schedule features road contests at Pittsburgh in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
A one-time transfer portal candidate, Doug Brumfield returns to UNLV ready for the 2022 season. But can he return to lead the Rebels to relevance?
Headed into a Saturday afternoon showdown with the Idaho State Bengals, Rebels head coach Marcus Arroyo has remained steadfast in not naming a starting quarterback ahead of kickoff. He has also spoken often of how this 2022 squad needs to learn from last year’s campaign, a 2-10 record that included six one-score losses, but also two wins in its last four games.
Now, however, with the news a starter has been named, first broken by Joe Arrigo of Franchise Sports Media, UNLV’s QB1 merits a closer look.
A 6’-5, 215 lb. quarterback, Doug Brumfield is a dual-threat quarterback that can offer options to the Rebels offense. With running back Aidan Collins – an incoming transfer from Louisville – in the backfield, expect Brumfield to be featured in a renewed rushing attack for UNLV, with the potential to mix in passing plays and keep defenses guessing. Wide receivers Kyle Williams and Ricky White are expected to be Brumfield’s main targets, and the offense as a whole will need to show improvement if the Rebels are to remain competitive throughout the season.
Brumfield has shown potential to lead the Rebels, including a comeback in a heart-breaking loss to Eastern Washington in last year’s season opener. He has the ability to move the offense as a passer or a rusher, but fans and critics alike will be looking for an evolution in the Rebels offense. If Brumfield can find success leading an offense featuring more run-pass options or big plays out of play action, there’s a chance this offense with a more pro-style approach can bring the kind of success that surprises a few teams this season.
But before fans can claim success, there are questions for Brumfield and the offense overall. A struggling offense at times will need Brumfield to buy time to allow receivers to get downfield. Trying to make too many big plays can also put Brumfield himself at risk, and after missing several games last season due to injury, there will inevitably be concerns with durability.
It can be said that Doug Brumfield embodies a lot of the character that defines this UNLV squad; after a tough season last year, and an offseason filled with questions, this 2022 is an opportunity for Brumfield and the Rebels to find a few more wins together. Easier said than done, but many of the pieces are in place and the season is upon us. Doug Brumfield now has an opportunity to lead the Rebels to greater success as a team to be reckoned with in the Mountain West Conference.
UNLV kicks off its 2022 season Saturday versus Idaho State. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. EDT and CBS Sports Network will televise the season-opening matchup.
Bailey appeared in seven games for the Vols from 2020-21, completing 51-of-75 passes for 578 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
“I had a previous relationship with coach (Marcus) Arroyo from when he was at Oregon,” Bailey said. “I felt like I will be the most successful, personally, and we can win a lot of games here.”
Ahead of Saturday’s Week 0 game between UNLV and Idaho State, the Rebels released its depth chart. Bailey and Doug Brumfield are listed as quarterback starters for UNLV.
UNLV started spring practices Tuesday under third-year head coach Marcus Arroyo. Arroyo came to UNLV after serving as offensive coordinator at Oregon from 2017-19.
Bailey discussed why he transferred to UNLV, stemming from when Arroyo recruited him while at Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia.
“I had a previous relationship with coach Arroyo from when he was at Oregon,” Bailey said. “I felt like I will be the most successful, personally, and we can win a lot of games here.”
Bailey appeared in seven games for the Vols from 2020-21, completing 51-of-75 passes for 578 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Josh Heupel details quarterback Harrison Bailey transferring from Tennessee.
Quarterback Harrison Bailey entered the NCAA transfer portal on Oct. 27 during Tennessee’s open date.
First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed Bailey transferring on Monday.
“Harrison’s been a really good teammate inside of our program from the time that I’ve gotten in here,” Heupel said. “In some ways, disappointed, the timing of when he makes his decision. It’s a different era in college athletics with the transfer portal over the last couple of years.
“Because of who he is and what he’s been about, I love both the person and the player, and wish him a ton of success as he moves on.”
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound signal-caller appeared in seven games for the Vols, completing 51-of-75 passes for 578 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Following the contest, first-year head coach Josh Heupel discussed Tennessee’s quarterback unit that consists of senior Hendon Hooker, sophomore Harrison Bailey and redshirt sophomore Brian Maurer competing for the starting position this spring.
Bailey went 12-for-15 for 261 passing yards and touchdowns in the spring game.
Maurer was 9-for-15, 171 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Hooker was 10-for-14 for 111 passing yards, one touchdown and an interception. Warren Burrell intercepted Hooker and returned it for a touchdown.
“They’ve come a long ways in the last 14 days, leading up to today,” Heupel said of the quarterback unit. “I think if you break spring ball up into thirds, every five practices, you’ve seen exponential growth from all of them. In their command of what we’re doing, ability to get signals and get lined up. Get their eyes, feet in the right place, be accurate with the football.
“I think the last three or four practices have been all of their best practices. I thought they played really efficient today. There were a couple times we needed to get rid of the ball maybe a little bit quicker, if they’re in a real, live situation. I think some of that is tough to judge when you know you’re not live, as well, but did a really good job of taking care of the football besides the one pick where Burrell makes a great break on the football and turns it into six points – a momentum changing play right there. Proud of what each of them have done this spring. I thought they all operated well today. They all had great composure out there.”
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols WirePhoto by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
The NCAA transfer portal has been a staple throughout college football in terms of student-athletes departing and arriving on different school’s rosters.
Following the Orange & White Game, Heupel discussed if he expects player movement on Tennessee’s roster with the quarterback unit ahead of the 2021 season.
“I think the quarterback position, along with every position on your roster, with the transfer portal and where we’re at, you have the opportunity to continue to add guys into your program as you get toward the end of the semester and lead into May, before guys are back working out, when you start summer workouts,” Heupel said.
“I’ve been through enough quarterback battles as a player or a coach to know that there’s so much time as you leave spring ball,” Heupel said. “We’ve had 15 practices. We’re going to have a lot more than that when we get to training camp, but they get a chance to sit back now and digest everything that’s gone on this spring. Get a chance to go through some installs this summer. They get a chance to coach it, own it, a little bit on their own. They get a chance to learn from the mistakes. They have an opportunity to come back a much better and different football player by the time they get to training camp.
“You allow your players to grow through this offseason. I think that’s important at the quarterback position, but it’s true everywhere. You have to judge players for who they are today, not where they were yesterday. You have to give kids an opportunity to make that movement during the June and July process.”
