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For the second time in as many years, a former SMU player who spent a season away from the program is returning to the team. Former safety De'Von Bailey spent the fall at home in Oklahoma, working and working out, and spending time with his family. He saved enough to return to SMU this spring, and just like Bryce Hudman did last year, Bailey will walk on with the Mustangs.

Bailey was heavily recruited out of Eisenhower High School in Lawton, Okla., in 2007, and many of the teams that wanted him then saw him as a wide receiver. With a new mental approach — and a new, slimmer physique — that is the position he'll play this spring with the Ponies. (He won't be wearing his old No. 2 jersey. That's now being worn by some guy named Kyle Padron.)

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Wow, that's a crazy story, thanks double P!

Love the attitude - sounds a lot like Hudman did when he came back.

Awesome. I hope he gets a chance to play

i like the attitude

Great story, De'von is looking inward and taking full responsibility of his actions, and now Jones will be giving another athlete a second chance to redeem himself.

I wondered what happened to him.

Glad he's back, and I hope he's able to make the team.

PonyPride wrote:For the second time in as many years, a former SMU player who spent a season away from the program is returning to the team. Former safety De'Von Bailey spent the fall at home in Oklahoma, working and working out, and spending time with his family. He saved enough to return to SMU this spring, and just like Bryce Hudman did last year, Bailey will walk on with the Mustangs.

Bailey was heavily recruited out of Eisenhower High School in Lawton, Okla., in 2007, and many of the teams that wanted him then saw him as a wide receiver. With a new mental approach — and a new, slimmer physique — that is the position he'll play this spring with the Ponies. (He won't be wearing his old No. 2 jersey. That's now being worn by some guy named Kyle Padron.)

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/index.php?id=155

Enjoy!

Webmasters
PonyFans.com

WOW !!! Thats a story because I always set beside his Mom at games, and she went to all of them.

Great stuff PP.

You have to pull for a kid like that. Great attitude. It would seem that for those who understand what is really going on, Jones is a great positive influence. Go Bailey!

You hear Coach J talk about kids being accountable ... this sounds like a kid who has grown into a young man who takes full responsibility for past mistakes and for current obligations. Whether he takes over for Emmanuel Sanders as the leading receiver on the team or never catches a pass, I'm rooting like hell for this guy.

Great story, webguys

Not just because De'Von Bailey is my son am I saying this....I'm very proud of the young man that he has become. It would have been very easy for him to take all of the set backs and negative jabs that he received from everyone and just give up his dreams to play football. Instead he took them and made himself better. I would like to say that comes from a good upbringing, but I won't take the credit for this. The credit stands totally on his shoulders. Despite being raised by myself and my mother without his father in the home, having a child at the age of 17, De'Von did not use these things as a crutch but as an opportunity for betterment. I hope with all of the things that he has done, he will be able to hit that football field again. I'm a proud mother who loves to watch him play!!! But if not, it won't change the fact that you (De'Von Bailey) are great!!!!! Keep up the good work.....

DANIELA17 wrote:Not just because De'Von Bailey is my son am I saying this....I'm very proud of the young man that he has become. It would have been very easy for him to take all of the set backs and negative jabs that he received from everyone and just give up his dreams to play football. Instead he took them and made himself better. I would like to say that comes from a good upbringing, but I won't take the credit for this. The credit stands totally on his shoulders. Despite being raised by myself and my mother without his father in the home, having a child at the age of 17, De'Von did not use these things as a crutch but as an opportunity for betterment. I hope with all of the things that he has done, he will be able to hit that football field again. I'm a proud mother who loves to watch him play!!! But if not, it won't change the fact that you (De'Von Bailey) are great!!!!! Keep up the good work.....

You have good reason to be proud...and I bet you have more to do with who he is today than you think.

It says a lot about his character in how he has handled things the past year. You should be proud of him.

Holy [deleted]! that's awesome. I've met De'Von a few times, and he always stuck me as a very straight forward and honest guy. I was very sorry to see him fall off, so it's very cool to see him get back on the horse. I don't know what he'll be able to do as a WR, but it's better to have him than to not have him. And it should be motivating to the team as a whole to know that when things go wrong, you have the power to make them right again.

-CoS

I couldn't agree more. Anyone who complains about Coach Jones "playing favorites" need only look at Bailey and Emmanuel Sanders and Aldrick Robinson. Sanders and Robinson were the team's best receivers and got benched for a couple of games. I've never heard Robinson talk about it, but Sanders has said many times it was the best thing that ever happened to him. In this story, it sounds like Bailey has a similar perspective, and that he's eager to show the coaches he deserves to be back.

Kudos to you, De'Von, for being there for your son and for busting your butt to get back to SMU. Good luck!