The Florida Gators have bolstered their quarterback depth by adding former Louisville QB Harrison Bailey through the NCAA Transfer Portal. This move follows the withdrawal of a financial aid agreement with former transfer QB Deshawn Purdie. Despite having a promising talent in DJ Lagway, the coaching staff sought additional depth at the position.
Bailey, who entered the portal on January 3, caught the attention of the Gators’ off-field assistant Ryan O’Hara, who observed him during a recruiting visit last Thursday. Following an official visit over the weekend, Bailey committed to Florida on Monday. Bailey was previously a target for the Gators during Jim McElwain’s tenure but ultimately signed with Tennessee in the 2020 recruiting class.
Bailey began his college career at Tennessee, where he had his most productive season in 2020, throwing for 578 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman. He saw limited action in 2021 before transferring to UNLV in 2022, where he played in five games, tallying 318 passing yards and two touchdowns. After another transfer to Louisville in 2023, Bailey played two seasons, throwing for 278 yards and four touchdowns combined. He notably started in Louisville’s recent bowl game victory over Washington, completing 16 of 25 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
Over his collegiate career, which includes stints at three schools, Bailey has thrown for 1,190 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions while completing 108 of 171 passes. He becomes Florida’s fifth addition from the transfer portal, joining wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant (UCLA), edge rusher Kofi Asare (UMass), cornerback Michael Caraway Jr. (Southern Miss), and punter Tommy Doman (Michigan).
Bailey was a highly regarded four-star recruit out of Marietta, Georgia, in the 2020 class, ranked No. 101 overall by 247Sports. As a transfer prospect, he is currently ranked No. 996 overall and No. 90 among quarterbacks by the same outlet.
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