Jack Bailey is taking his talents to the Rocky Mountains.
A former All-Ohio offensive lineman at Kirtland and three-year letterwinner at Kent State, Bailey announced April 7 he is tranferring to Colorado to play for Coach Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes. He will have two years of eligibility remaining and will pursue his Master’s of Business Administration following his graduation from Kent in May.
“I’m excited. Can’t wait,” Bailey told The News-Herald. “Words can’t put it into reality what I’m feeling right now. I can’t wait to get out there and get back with my old coaches.”
Former Kent State head coach Sean Lewis is the new offensive coordinator at Colorado, while Bailey’s former offensive line coach — Bill O’Boyle — holds the same position with the Buffaloes.
“What sold me on Colorado? Mainly the fact my old coaches from Kent are there,” he said. “The relationship and trust I have build with them are important to me. I’d go with them anywhere.”
Bailey said Pitt and Louisville were also in the running for his services after he entered the transfer portal earlier this week.
“I called Colorado (April 6) and told Coach Lewis and O’Boyle,” Bailey said. “They were on the phone together, and they were pretty excited. They can’t wait to get me out there and get to work.”
Bailey, who has never been on the Colorado campus, will visit the program April 14 and meet the flamboyant Coach Sanders for the first time, a meeting Bailey said he is “very much looking forward to.”
Colorado opens the season Sept. 2 at TCU, with the home opener a week later against visiting Nebraska. Bailey said he plans on going to Colorado with the intent of winning a starting job with the Buffaloes. The journey from Kirtland to the Mid-American Conference to the Pac-12 doesn’t faze him one bit.
“Coach LaVerde got me ready for this back in high school,” Bailey said. “I know everybody looks down on Kirtland, thinking we’re just some small place, but there are big things going on there. I’m ready for this opportunity.”
