Florida appears to be moving forward with its efforts to bring in transfer quarterback Harrison Bailey. Bailey participated in a workout with the Gators’ coaching staff on Thursday morning, and shortly after, he visited Florida’s Gainesville campus. Experts now believe there’s a strong possibility that the former Tennessee quarterback will end up at Florida.
On3 Sports’ recruiting analysts Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos both gave a 60% confidence prediction on Friday that Bailey will transfer to Florida for his final year of eligibility.
Bailey entered the transfer portal on January 3 after leading Louisville to a Sun Bowl victory over Washington, earning MVP honors in the process. The Sun Bowl was his first start since 2020, as he has spent much of his career as a backup. A four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, Bailey initially committed to Tennessee under Jeremy Pruitt. The Georgia native played in six games as a freshman, starting the last three and totaling 578 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions.
After Josh Heupel’s arrival as head coach, Bailey saw reduced opportunities, with Joe Milton III and Hendon Hooker taking over starting roles in 2021. Bailey decided to enter the transfer portal midway through his second year at Tennessee.
Bailey spent the 2022 season at UNLV before joining Louisville for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterback started in the Sun Bowl for the Cardinals, leading them to a 35-34 win with 164 passing yards and three touchdowns, before entering the transfer portal just days later.
While Florida is preparing for DJ Lagway to take over as the starting quarterback in 2025, the coaching staff is still looking to add depth behind him. Bailey, a seasoned five-year player with SEC experience, could be the ideal addition to their quarterback room.
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