Bailey TD
Rodney Adams

Football Joshua Sampson - MSU Athletic Communications

Bailey Not Worried About Personal Accolades, Just Winning

Football Joshua Sampson - MSU Athletic Communications

Bailey Not Worried About Personal Accolades, Just Winning

BALTIMORE, Md. (Sept. 26, 2019) -- Morgan State senior Manasseh Bailey went from special teams player to the team's top wideout, however, he is not worried about himself.
 
"My goal as a player is I just want to be able to go out there and do what I can for the team," Bailey said. "Everything I do is for the team. I'm a team player and I'm not worried about myself."
 
Bailey has become a leader and holds teammates accountable. Even when the team is going through difficult times he wants his teammates to remain focus and keep being aggressive.
 
"I let them know that even though we're down we have to go out there with the mindset that it's [0-0] and we still have to put some points on the board," Bailey said. "We still have to go out there with fire and intensity in all three phases of the game."
 
Bailey said he is not a big talker but if his voice needs to be heard, it will be. He also likes to lead by example.
 
Bailey's leadership has not gone unseen. Head Coach Tyrone Wheatley has taken notice of his wideout bringing his teammates together.
 
"He's always a guy who collectively is trying to get everyone involved. He is being a mentor and he is also holding guys accountable," Wheatley said. 
 
Bailey has not received a championship ring at Suitland High School nor during his tenure at Morgan State and he plans on changing that this season.
 
"Our biggest goal as a team is I want to win the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) championship," Bailey said. "I always wanted a ring. I [didn't get] a ring in high school. I just want a ring. I want to make sure my teammates have a ring, and we can put rings on the coaches' fingers."
 
Bailey is not just talking, he is producing on the field.
 
During Morgan State's last game against Army (Sept. 21), Bailey moved to No. 9 in all-time receiving yards in school history accumulating 1,332 yards on 72 catches passing Edwin Baptiste.
 
"I did not see myself here breaking that record," Bailey said. 

"I'm always confident in myself and eager to get out there and play, but you never know. I'm always playing in the now," hed added. "It means a lot to me to go out there and know that I can compete with a lot of the greats that went to Morgan State. I had talked to a couple of them like Marc Lester. I had a workout with him before and I'm trying to break his record."
 
Also, Bailey said quarterback DeAndre Harris is the one who helped him become established as a player dating back to his sophomore year.
 
"We're like brothers," Bailey said. "Neither one of us played a lot our freshman year so we got established during our sophomore year. Sophomore year when I had all those stats, he was the one passing me the ball."
 
During Bailey's sophomore year he totaled 610 yards ranking eighth in the MEAC and tenth with 37 receptions. He also caught six touchdowns. 
 
Since then Bailey has topped his total stats from each previous season. In 2018 he amassed 425 yards with four touchdowns. 
 
This season Bailey has already had two 100-plus yard games bringing his total yards for 2019 to 297. Bailey currently ranks first in the MEAC in receiving yards. 
 
However, Bailey wouldn't be here without his hard work. Wheatley said none of those stats mean anything without the things he is doing off the field. 
 
During the offseason, Bailey works out with the quarterbacks and defensive backs to do one-on-ones. Along with field workouts, Bailey said he also goes to the weight room.
 
Bailey said the team must stay focused every day to come out victorious.
 
"We have to be focused in practice and have to have the mindset that every day we have to go out there and win," Bailey said. "Not even for the game. Not even just on Saturdays. We have to win on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and all the days in between to make sure that we are prepared to come out there with aggression." 
 
Morgan State will face off against the North Carolina Central Eagles in their home opener Sept. 28 at 6 p.m.  

ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 

 
 
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Players Mentioned

Manasseh Bailey

#13 Manasseh Bailey

WR
6' 1"
Junior
DeAndre Harris

#6 DeAndre Harris

QB
6' 4"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Manasseh Bailey

#13 Manasseh Bailey

6' 1"
Junior
WR
DeAndre Harris

#6 DeAndre Harris

6' 4"
Junior
QB