Cove senior signs to play football for NAIA Briar Cliff

By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press

Continuing his academic career has always been a priority for Copperas Cove senior Tyler Bailey and to get to continue his football career is just icing on the cake for the tight end/wide receiver.
“Academics have always been a top priority for me and my family,” said Bailey. “My parents have always preached that good grades will help you get far. Being able to keep good grades helped get me to this point. 
“It’s great to be able to continue on and play at the next level and get my college paid for.”
Bailey will get to continue his football and academia for the Briar Cliff Chargers of Souix Falls, Iowa. The Chargers compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
The feeling of home drew Bailey to the Midwest university.
“The family community there just felt right,” he said. “The town was great, the people are amazing and everything about it just felt right.”
Bailey spent time at both wide receiver and tight end as a member of the Bulldawgs and that is likely to stay the same in Iowa.
“They’re looking at me for wide receiver or tight end, depending on how much weight I can put on,” he said. “They’re leaning more towards tight end.”
His versatility and size attracted the Chargers’ staff to Bailey.
“They said I bring leadership and intelligence,” he said. “Also, they said they like my size and my ability to play.”
Bailey cherishes all the memories made along the way, but the new coaching staff and all-in attitude of his teammates made his senior year stick out the most. 
“Coach Alvarez coming in was a great opportunity, getting a new system and we were all in,” he said. “We committed all the way to it. It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but it was still very memorable.”
Now comes the task of preparing for that next level.
“I’m just trying to gain weight, get stronger, faster and prepare myself for those months of college that I’m there by myself and getting focused on football,” said Bailey.
Bailey offers a few words of advice for teammates who will soon begin the recruitment process.
“Just do your research,” he said. “The school is going to tell you stuff, but just make sure you do a little bit extra research to make sure it’s the right spot for you.”