QUINLAN BAILEY
BROKEN BOW HIGH SCHOOL
Webster defines “throwback” as something suggestive of an earlier time or style. And Broken Bow footballer Quinlan Bailey fits that image to a tee according to his new coach Maverick Lang.
“He’s prototypical of what you want in a middle linebacker. He’s big and physical and has a good nose for the football with good lateral speed. I think he’s a kid you could drop into the 1950s and he’d fit the mold of a middle linebacker in those days. He’s got a good football IQ and understands what opposing offenses are trying to do to us. We’re expecting a huge senior season from him,” said Lang.
Even though he also plays running back on offense, playing defense is where he lives.
“As the middle linebacker on defense you’re the leader of the defense and more in charge of things than I am on offense.” That mentality even extends to one of his football highlights. “Last year against McAlester I knocked the quarterback out of the game-that was pretty fun,” Quinlan laughed.
Though the Savages have several seniors Quinlan has the most varsity experience, so he is the de facto leader of the team this year.
“I try to keep everyone on track and not let them get down on themselves if they make a mistake and just try to keep everyone up,” said Bailey who is also part of the student council, FCCLA, and Spanish Club. He also qualified for state in power lifting last year and runs the 100- and 200-meter sprints and the 4X200 relay in track. So as a senior leader, what advice would he have for the incoming freshmen?
“I’d tell them that high school is a totally different game. The players and bigger and faster. You might not get as much playing time as you’d like, and this year will be a challenge in balancing schoolwork with football. You may get discouraged but if you stay with it, you can end up being a pretty good player as you get older.”
Quinlan’s goals for this year include getting over 1000 yards rushing and over 160 tackles.
