FORT COLLINS, Colo. — David Bailey has a chance to be the ‘x factor’ for Colorado State’s backfield in 2021.
An extremely productive player during his three seasons at Boston College, the 6-foot-0, 240-pound senior running back was a huge boost to CSU’s depth at running back this offseason.
During his time with the Eagles, Bailey appeared in 28 games, amassing 332 carries for 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. He added 18 receptions for 158 yards and a score for good measure as well.
“He’s an elite proven player from a power five conference,” Steve Addazio said of Bailey on Tuesday. “He’s a big, strong, physical, fast back. And he’s catching the ball in the backfield.”
Addazio did add that he’s pleased with the running back room as a whole, which is why Marcus McElroy Jr. (Graduate), A’Jon Vivens (redshirt junior) and Jaylen Thomas (redshirt sophomore) are all listed as co-starters alongside Bailey on the team’s initial depth chart. “We’re going to play with a pool of bash,” Addazio said.
In McElroy the Rams have a veteran power back that’s recorded significant carries in each of the past three seasons. He’s coming off of a career-low average of 2.7 yards per carry last year, though, which is why it’s unsurprising that Addazio and Co. took advantage of their previously established relationships with Bailey and brought him in.
In an interview with DNVR and the Coloradoan on Tuesday, Bailey said that the coaching staff and the players he already knew were the primary reason that he decided to move across the country and come to CSU. One of the players that Bailey specifically mentioned was Trey McBride. He knew some of the defensive line and a couple of the running backs as well.
“But the coaching staff was a big part of it,” Bailey said. “Just from them recruiting me in 11th grade and 12th grade in high school, then coaching me during my freshman and sophomore years, helping me become the player I was during those years. They helped me get to that level, so I was like it’s only a matter of time to go and reunite with the team and the coaching staff. I feel like it’s been a great move for me so far.”
According to Bailey, the altitude was definitely something that he had to get used to. He didn’t expect for it to be a serious deal, as he was in good shape coming in. But when he got out to Fort Collins this summer to work out and talk to the coaches it definitely hit him fast. Now that he’s acclimated, Bailey said that he’s feeling really good going into the 2021 season.
It was a relatively seamless transition for Bailey given that he was already familiar with Addazio’s system. It was one of the things that appealed to him coming in. Instead of learning a whole new offense somewhere else he could come to CSU and go right into a system that he’s previously had significant success in. And he could play for coaches that he already had established bonds with.
In fact, Bailey said that his relationship with Addazio and Brian White is so strong, it’s as if they’re family. They know him, they know his family. There were no concerns regarding how they would treat him in any way. “They’re really loyal guys, so (I figured) might as well come back and keep the journey going,” Bailey said.
While the offense is not 100 percent the same as when Bailey played for Addazio at Boston College, the principles, schemes and little things like pass blocking assignments are all extremely similar, according to Bailey.
“I kind of already know everything like the back of my hand, so it was just learning all the new things,” Bailey said. He added that he is currently comfortable with anything that will be asked of him at CSU. Most of what he had to learn was taught to him over the summer and he’s been able to get in the flow of things on the field throughout training camp.
Finally, Bailey is just genuinely enjoying living in Colorado and playing at CSU.
“It’s a nice, chill vibe out here,” Bailey said, before also adding that he’s loving the players and the team so far. “I told my parents that I’m not coming home for a while.”
Bailey will make his CSU debut with the Rams against South Dakota State on Friday night, with fans in the stands and an electric atmosphere.
“We’re very excited just to see the fans and have actual crowd noise,” Bailey said. “They had to play a little audio in the back (last year). The fans are going to help by actually pumping guys up. And just us running out the tunnel, it’s going to be amazing.”
