Stanford EDGE David Bailey enters transfer portal

Stanford EDGE David Bailey has entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer, On3 has learned. Viewed as one of the top returning pass rushers in the nation, he will be one of the most sought-after players in this spring’s portal. Bailey is the top available player in the portal and the No. 3 prospect who has gone in the portal this cycle, according to On3.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound EDGE posted 111 career tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in his career. He’s also forced seven fumbles in his career. His decision to enter the transfer portal comes days after Stanford fired head coach Troy Taylor.

Taylor’s firing comes in the middle of March and seven days away from spring practice, opening the 30-day transfer portal for Stanford players. A former four-star recruit, Bailey was an On3 True Freshman All-American in 2022.

Bailey was Stanford’s highest graded defender this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. He touted the No. 1 pass rush win rate in the nation last season, and also ranked in the top 10 in impact and havoc rates.

The EDGE held offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Michigan and USC, among others, but picked Stanford for the education. In the last two years, Bailey has been high on boards as a target to get in the transfer portal, but he stayed loyal to the Cardinal. Now with a degree in hand, he will be a top portal target for multiple programs.

Bailey was even viewed as a potential 2025 NFL draft prospect, but was viewed as a late-round pick. Now he will return to college and prove his value to the NFL at a new school.