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Take Two: Is a fifth-star on way for 2020 QB Harrison Bailey?

Harrison Bailey
Harrison Bailey (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

MORE FIVE-STAR CHALLENGE: Offensive roster | Defensive roster | Farrell's storylines | Best Five-Star Challenge performance ever? | Which QB will shine brightest? | Who will improve stock? | Full Rivals Camp Series coverage

THE STORYLINE

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In the early 2020 rankings, there is only one five-star quarterback and that’s Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco’s D.J. Uiagalelei, the No. 1 overall prospect in the class.

Ranked second at the position is Harrison Bailey from Marietta, Ga. Bailey has excellent size, a great arm, he’s been a national name since landing his first offer in middle school and he definitely has five-star potential. Everything is lining up for an argument to be made that Bailey deserves a five-star ranking as well.

And he will be at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas later this week.

There are questions about his athleticism and especially his mobility in the pocket and that’s why Bailey has not earned that coveted fifth-star yet. Could a huge performance at the Five-Star Challenge push him over that edge during the next rankings cycle?

FIRST TAKE: CHAD SIMMONS, RIVALS.COM SOUTHEAST ANALYST

“I don't think there is a stage too big for Bailey. He is used to eyes being on him and he has been on the stage for a couple of years already. Bailey is the No. 24 prospect in the country, so he is definitely in that five-star discussion. He has a big frame, he has shown he can drive the ball down the field and he has a great head on his shoulders. In this setting, I don't know if there is a weakness for Bailey. He was here a year ago with guys like Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Matt Corral, and he more than held his own. It is still early in his recruitment, but Michigan and Tennessee are definitely two schools to watch.”

SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM RECRUITING DIRECTOR

“He has five-star ability. The question is going to be his ability to move out of the pocket. We’re not really going to see that this weekend, but if he’s as good as he normally is and precise and goes out there and dominates, he’s right in the discussion for five-star.

“He’s a little bit methodical, so we have to see if there is a Max Browne factor there. He’s very, very good on film, very impressive since middle school, but we have to see if the ball comes out quickly, if decisions are made quickly and all that stuff. We won’t be able to see much of the agility.

“Michigan and Tennessee both need quarterbacks. Shea Patterson is an injection of life into the quarterback position for Michigan but he won’t be there for long. Bailey would be a potential franchise guy who fits in perfectly in that offense. For Tennessee, I think the same thing. The Vols need quarterbacks, they need big-name guys in the Southeast to commit to them. At quarterback, with his name recognition, it would really make other players take notice of Tennessee.”

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