Heading into the 2011 season, redshirt freshman Dion Bailey's only concern was his transition from safety (where he had combined 142 tackles and 12 interceptions his junior and senior years of high school) to outside linebacker. Six games in, the move has transformed the Lakewood native from a virtual unknown to the Trojans' most dominant defender.
"I wouldn't have believed it, if you told me before the season I was going to have this kind of success," Bailey said. "The goals I had for myself this season, I've already exceeded. I wanted to be realistic with myself because of the position change, so if that meant 20 or 30 snaps a game, I would have been fine with it."
Not only has Bailey (pictured right by Pierson Clair) started every game this season at OLB, but he's led by example with his performance between the lines. Â Going into Saturday's rivalry game at Notre Dame, Troy's latest star in the making leads the team in tackles (49) and is tied in interceptions (thanks to the two he snagged last week vs. Cal).Â
"I was moved to linebacker to help our pass defense, and up until last week's game I didn't feel like I had really helped the team," said Bailey. "My main focus against Cal was to take risks and get my hands on the ball in any way possible. It just ended up that I had two interceptions."
While the former Lakewood HS star's stock has continued to climb in recent weeks, Bailey insists that the player he is today has less to do with him and everything to do with the support system he has around him.Â
"I think a lot of my success just stems from staying positive," said Bailey. "My family has motivated me to always handle situations, whether good or bad. Also, having a great coach like Joe Barry, who constantly pushes me to get better, it makes my job easier. Everything has just been going my way so far."
Although having versatility at two different positions has helped Bailey (pictured right by Pierson Clair) immensely this year, he also attributes the swift learning curve to the time he spent watching veterans in front of him during his redshirt year last season.
"[Redshirting last year] helped me tremendously," said Bailey. "I was able to watch Malcolm Smith play the position as an undersized linebacker and also how he used his skill set to his advantage. The process helped me mature physically and mentally because there is a big difference between the high school and college game."
Bailey admits that the biggest change for him this season occurred in the film room, where he is constantly researching and watching tape to the point that he feels like he knows opposing players better than he knows himself. His anonymity may be a thing of the past as Bailey's on-field performance has certainly put him on the college football map.
"It still surprises me when people come out to me and recognize who I am," said Bailey. "I only see Robert [Woods] as a player with that kind of notoriety, because he's such a huge player for us. It's funny that people are starting to notice me now."
The redshirt freshman will have another primetime opportunity to become a household name this weekend when the Trojans' travel to South Bend for their annual clash with the Fighting Irish.
"It's going to be an electric atmosphere up there," said Bailey of what he expects at Notre Dame Stadium. "They hate us and we aren't too fond of them. It's going to be a great rivalry game, because they have great players and have turned their season around after starting 0-2. We are just out here playing for respect, because no one really respects us. I just hope we go out there and do what we're supposed to do."
