Lakeland OT Josh Bailey inspires on and off the field

By: Kyle Mills

Josh Bailey is autistic. He knows this, his coaches and teammates know this, and now you know this as well. Being autistic is not something he wants to hide or is ashamed of, “I’m happy I have autism. I feel it makes me unique in some way,” said Bailey of his condition. On his Twitter bio he claims he is “proudly autistic," a term that he really embraces. “I want to show others that people with autism can do extraordinary things never before thought possible such as play football and go to college,” said Bailey when asked about it. Although he is doing extraordinary things right now, that is not what this article is going to be about. The focus is not going to be on Josh Bailey, the kid with autism, but rather Josh Bailey, the offensive and defensive lineman for Lakeland High School that is helping to turn around the football program on and off the field.

The Lakeland Eagles were once proud members of the KLAA and were among the top of the North Division almost every year. A lot has changed the past few years as they have not made the playoffs since 2008 and finished last season with a 4-5 record. Offensive Coordinator Steve Stewart knows that the program must get back to old school discipline if it wants to be successful. Stewart is putting some things into effect such as requiring the football players to wear a collared shirt or Lakeland gear to every class, and mandating that the players sit in the first two rows of classes to create a team bond that has been missing. One player that has been helping with the program overhaul is none other than Class of 2015 OT/DT Josh Bailey. Bailey is a hulking 6 feet 6 inch man-child who weighs around 265 pounds and has been putting 110% into everything he has done since he first put on the Lakeland Eagle blue and white uniform.

Josh Bailey is a high intensity football player and he is not shy about letting others know it. Coach Steward said of Josh, “He is the most passionate football player I have coached. He just loves the game.” The junior is projected to start at offensive tackle next season as a senior and will also see time at defensive tackle as well. Bailey knows that with all of the time he is going to get on the field, he better be putting in the work in the offseason. “There’s always something you can be doing whether it is lifting in the weight room, watching film, or working on technique,” Bailey said when asked how he motivates others while still working hard. Off the field in the weight room, Josh’s passion can only be described as religious by some. “Josh has never missed a weight lifting, practice, or film session in his three years here at Lakeland. His numbers will prove it,” said Coach Stewart marveling at the time his junior leader is putting in. Josh says that he does not remember how much he lifted freshman year but that it “wasn’t very much,” but has now worked his way up to around 225 pounds on the bench and 315 pounds on squat. “Of course I’m looking to improve those numbers before the start of the season,” said the kid who won’t stop getting better.

Some might think that a kid who has so much raw size would not work as hard and become complacent because of it. This is not the case with Josh Bailey. “He never wants to stop learning even if he thinks he has it down, he just wants to do it better,” said Coach Stewart in awe of Bailey. “There will not be one person on that field who is going to work harder than him. He’s coachable,” which can only be taken as words of praise coming from his offensive coordinator Steve Stewart. Bailey says he has learned his non-stop work ethic from past seniors and former captains he has played with. “They’ve taught me a lot about leadership, football, and working hard.” Josh Bailey is a kid who lives for the game of football. The way he carries himself on and off the field show a dedication that Lakeland needs to turn around its football program.

After learning all about this awesome kid, why would a college coach not want him to be a part of the program? Josh Bailey has been going to camps and trying to get his name out there for several years now. He says that Concordia and several other small colleges have emailed him but expects recruiting to heat up during the summer. It’s been Josh’s lifelong dream to play football at the next level. “It would mean everything to me (to play in college), it would be the experience of a lifetime,” he said about his desire to play after his senior season at Lakeland. Some players are described as hard workers, but Coach Stewart says Bailey is truly a player who is, “the first one to the field and the last one to leave. He does break downs, he gives speeches, he jumps in to help on the scout team. He won’t leave the field and the other kids feed off of that.” This dedication and maximum effort is extremely rare to find in a young high school athlete, but Bailey seems to already have mastered this trait which will only serve to help Lakeland succeed next season.

If this article had not told you that Josh Bailey was autistic earlier, would you even know it from everything else that was written? The correct answer is no.

Let’s focus on the facts, Josh Bailey is a Class of 2015 OT/DT from Lakeland High School who is doing everything possible to not only motivate but inspire his teammates on and off the field in preparation for his senior season next year. With a kid like Josh in the locker-room, the future for the Eagles is looking bright, maybe even playoff appearance bright.

Coach Stewart said it best when he stated, “I wish every student player I came across and coached had the passion and heart that he has for the game of football and just in life. Josh will go very far because he won’t let anything hold him back from his dreams and goals.”

You can watch Josh's Hudl Highlights: here

You can follow Josh on Twitter at: @Joshuabailey22

You can check out his The D Zone profile here: Josh Bailey

You can follow Lakeland football on Twitter at: @LakelandeagleFB

You can follow me on Twitter at: @generalmills101

You can email me at: kyle.mills@cornerstone.edu