UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet (24) is tackled by Stanford defensive end David Bailey (23) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
STANFORD – Most coaches are hesitant to heap praise on a freshman before he even plays his first game. But David Bailey isn’t like most freshmen.
Playing at the edge position, a combination of defensive end and outside linebacker, Bailey became the first freshman to start a season opener in David Shaw’s 12 seasons at Stanford, and the first Cardinal defender to start a season opener since at least 2000.
“He’s not one of those guys (about) whom we say, ‘We know he’s got a lot of talent, but let’s not start him right away. Let’s work him in,” Shaw told the school website before the season. “We’re going to put him out there and let him play. He’ll make some freshman mistakes, but he’s going to make some plays that very few other people are capable of making.”
Long, strong, physical, and explosive, Bailey is proving his coach right so far by playing his best against the best teams the Cardinal (3-5, 1-5 Pac-12) has faced. The Irvine native sacked No. 9 USC’s Caleb Williams in his first Pac-12 game, had six solo tackles at No. 8 Oregon and recorded a team-high 10 tackles and forced a fumble last week against No. 10 UCLA.
In seven games (he missed one due to injury), Bailey has 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks heading into Saturday’s game against visiting Washington State (12:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
Stanford switched its base defensive alignment this year from a 3-4 to a 4-3 in part to take advantage of players like Bailey, who is versatile enough to rush the passer and to drop back in coverage.
“It’s a fun position because you get to do everything,” Bailey said. “I like pass rushing a lot but I wouldn’t choose to pass rush every play of the game. So I do like dropping back into coverage and switching it up.”
Bailey was ranked No. 3 at the edge position and No. 33 overall in his class by 247Sports last year after leading Mater Dei to the No. 1 national ranking as a senior.
Knowing he could continue at edge helped Bailey pick Stanford over finalists Cal, USC, and UCLA, but he said he wouldn’t have considered the Cardinal if not for a change Stanford made to help it attract top recruits.
Stanford’s faculty senate voted in 2021 to implement a three-year pilot program to allow up to 15 athletes to enroll up to two quarters before their freshman season. Bailey, tight end Sam Rousch and wide receiver Mudia Reuben make up the second class of early enrollees, and the first group to enroll in the winter quarter.
Bailey said it allowed him to learn the playbook and begin a more intensive strength and conditioning program, which helped him hit the ground running when the season started. It also gave the coaches the confidence to start him right away. The last Stanford freshman to start the opener was fullback Owen Marecic in 2007.
While in high school, Bailey would just shower and go home after practice. Now he takes care of his body through stretching and cold tubs. But something else he needed to get used to on The Farm was dealing with losses – Mater Dei went 29-1 in Bailey’s three years on varsity.
The Cardinal can still make a bowl game if it finishes the season strong. But with a trip to No. 12 Utah on tap next week, that means Stanford can’t afford a home loss to Washington State (4-4, 1-4), which has lost three straight games.
“We’re trying to make a bowl game and we have to win three of the next four, and we have Utah too, so this is obviously going to be a big one,” Bailey said.
Stanford’s offense has scored just two touchdowns in its last three games and is down to one scholarship running back due to injuries, which puts even more pressure on the defense to snap the team’s five-game losing streak against the Cougars.
“Honestly I’m not worried about my personal performance,” Bailey said. “I’m more worried about how the team does as a whole. If I have a game like UCLA that’s great, but the team’s success is more important than my success.”
Originally published at Harold Gutmann