Jake Bailey commits to Stanford

Jake Bailey is not your average highly ranked high school kicker.

Sure, Bailey can hit 50-plus yard field goals and blast kickoffs into the endzone. But in addition to handling special teams duties for his Santa Fe Christian High School squad, Bailey played defensive back (and receiver) in his junior year.

He has multiple pick-sixes on his HUDL highlight tape to prove it.

Bailey won't be doing any of that on the college level, nor will he play DB in his senior year of high school (so that he doesn't risk injury), but the Southern California native's football career will continue for at least the next four years.

On the heels of a strong performance at Stanford's specialists camp on Monday, Bailey was offered a scholarship by Cardinal special teams coach Pete Alamar on Tuesday. After receiving the offer, Bailey wasted little time in committing.

"The camp was (Monday)," Bailey said. "I flew back (Monday) night. (Tuesday) morning Coach Alamar called me and that was about it - he offered me a full ride and I committed there on spot."

"I think he knew. He knew Stanford was my No. 1 so he wasn't very surprised but he was happy to have me."

"They have the best academics in the country and best athletics in the country. So I don't know why (I wouldn't choose them). I'm really excited to be up there."

Bailey had to best significant competition to earn the Stanford offer. The Cardinal's specialists camp attracted many of the nation's top kickers to The Farm.

"I'd say 15 of the top-ranked kickers nationally were there," Bailey said. "It was a very solid day. Coach Alamar is really good - he didn't overkick anyone. So I really enjoyed that and I liked how organized it was. I kicked pretty well. I actually was just on the phone with Coach Anderson, the defensive coordinator, and he said the reason why they really like me is because I'm extremely athletic and they think I have a lot of upside."

Bailey chose Stanford over an offer from Cornell and interest from multiple Pac-12 programs, Nevada and Cal Poly.

"Cornell was No. 2 on my list," Bailey said. "They offered me and I really liked their coaching staff. I've had a couple of friends go play on their football team so that was very intriguing to me. Another reason why Stanford was very intriguing to me is because (their) current long snapper is one of my good friends (who) used to go to my high school, Reed Miller. We're good friends. I just wanted to have someone that I know already in the program - that was a big deal for me."

Bailey could be involved in all phases of special teams when he joins the Cardinal program.

"Coach Alamar said he's going to have me as a kicker and punter and he's also going to use me as a kickoff guy," Bailey said. "It;s his plan what he wants to do with me."

Bailey said that his career long field goal in an actual game is 50 yards; he hasn't been given an opportunity to attempt one longer than that. In practice, he's hit from 60 yards.

He reports a 4.03 GPA and a 1580 SAT.

Bailey had been in touch with the Cardinal for some time prior to receiving an offer from Stanford. A few years back, several Cardinal coaches paid a visit to Bailey's high school. Then, in April, Bailey took an unofficial visit to The Farm and was able to meet Cardinal head coach David Shaw on the trip.

"When I took my unofficial visit back in I think it was April I actually ran into Coach Shaw when I was with Coach Alamar on the tour," Bailey said. "I really liked Coach Shaw from when I first met him. And then I talked to Coach Shaw (Monday) and I think he really liked me. I was really impressed with him too, so I'm very happy."