Dual positions for Bailey

During his prep career and first year of junior college football, Cleveland (Miss.) native Darone Bailey normally lined up at offensive guard. This past spring, the Coahoma County (Miss.) Community College rising sophomore found himself working at a couple of spots up front.

"Spring practice went great for me and I got to play two positions," said the 6-foot-6 and 315-pound Bailey. "Our center last year left so I had to play center and guard this spring. I thought it worked out well and it's always good to be versatile on the offensive line. Schools are wanting me as an offensive guard but it was good to work at center this year and I will probably still play guard this year."

And Bailey noted several BCS programs observed his play this spring along the offensive line.

"Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Baylor, Marshall, Southern Miss, Georgia and Troy and Tennessee came by this spring," said Bailey. "And a lot of those schools want me to visit them this summer and I plan to do that."

Earlier this month, one of those schools watching Bailey closely became the first school to offer him.

"Kentucky offered me and I was shocked, to be honest," said Bailey. "Actually I was super-shocked. I was sitting around watching a basketball game and their offensive line coach called me. He said their head coach wanted to offer me and it was great news to hear."

In the near future, Bailey said he plans to unofficially visit Kentucky as well as check out other SEC schools. Earlier this spring Bailey unofficially visited MSU and plans a return trip this summer.

"Mississippi State and Ole Miss want me up there this summer," said Bailey, who expects to graduate in December. "Neither school has offered me yet but both are talking pretty good to me. I am also supposed to visit Kentucky and Georgia unofficially this summer and then I will also officially visit them in the fall."