As a quarterback, Bailey Thacker could see his options to pass or run. As a recruit, all he could see was one school.
Despite offers from other schools, the Ironton Fighting Tigers 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior quarterback didn’t seem to have any interest except with the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds.
“Mainly I focused on U-Indy because that’s where I wanted to be,” said Thacker about his recruiting process.”They recruited me the most. I talked to a couple of other D2 schools — St. Francis and Morehead State offered — but they kept reaching out. For me, it was just who wanted me the most. (Indianapolis) kept reaching out to me, kept emailing me and took me onto the campus.”
Although Thacker has played some tight end and defensive end, his main position is quarterback and that was the position where U-Indy wanted him.
“They are going to put me in a good spot. Once they offered me a good scholarship, I figured I’d take it,” said Thacker.
Although the Greyhounds return a couple of quarterbacks from last season’s Great Lakes Valley Conference championship team including their starter. Thacker said he will enter the fall as No.3 on the depth chart.
“I’m in a good spot. I’ll be coming in as third string. That’s good for me,” said Thacker. “Their starting quarterback is good. They went 9-2 last year and won the conference.”
U-Indy’s quarterback Gavin Sukup was 195 of 293 last season for 2,716 yards and 25 touchdowns. The junior-to-be ran 96 times for 424 yards and 7 scores.
Backup quarterback Connor Kinnett will be a senior.
In 13 games for Ironton, Thacker completed 66 of 108 passes for 61 percent and 1,228 yards with 19 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Thacker also ran 78 times for 227 yards and scored 3 touchdowns as Ironton went 11-2, won the Ohio Valley Conference and reached the Region 19 finals.
“He’s definitely a dual threat guy,” said Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton.
Although Thacker has played other positions and was recruited as a quarterback, he said he’s open to wherever the coaching staff want to play him.
“I’d do anything for the team,” said Thacker, who was a first team All-Southeast District selection and honorable mention All-Ohio.
Although Thacker can play multiple positions and play them well, he said quarterback remains his main position.
“Quarterback for sure,” said Thacker with a laugh. “I just love it. I love being back there.”
“This year had some ups and downs. I’m not happy with the outcome, but I’m with the team I played for. It was a great experience for me.”
Pendleton said Thacker epitomizes a true team-first attitude.
“His biggest quality is his willingness to do whatever for the team and make the team better,” said Pendleton. “He’s a kid who took on multiple roles for us and excelled at those roles no matter what they were. He embodies what it means to be a teammate and when he gets to that next level, it takes a lot of sacrifice to play at that level and I think that they’re going to put him in a position where he does well. He’s going to have an opportunity to get on the field early because he’s so versatile.”
Pendleton said Thacker has all the tools to play well at whatever position the U-Indy coaches settle on.
“He didn’t play much defense before he got here, but with that long frame and athletic ability, we put him in during certain situations and he played great. He was always good against the pass because he was athletic. As the year went on, he got better and better against the run. Toward the end of the year, he was valuable on both sides of the ball,” said Pendleton.
Bailey is leaning toward exercise science as his major.
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