In a world of first-round draft picks and huge signing bonuses, one local Philly athlete is working hard to make it big with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rasheed Bailey grew up in Philadelphia, in the Abbotsford Home Projects of Roxborough. He played football at Roxborough High, where he excelled at tight end.
“I feel like, you know, me growing up in these streets, every time I step onto that field, I feel that passion in my heart,” Bailey said. “I feel my city, I hear that ‘fly Eagles fly’ song in my head. It’s a part of me.”
Bailey ended up playing football at a small Division III college, Delaware Valley University. The Aggies have an enrollment of under 2,000 students, and student-athletes are given the option to participate in more than one sport, something that is almost entirely nonexistent in Division I.
At Delaware Valley, Bailey led all of Division III in receiving yards in 2015 after transitioning from a tight end to a wide receiver. His superb stats got his name on the back of an Eagles Jersey, signed as an undrafted free agent.
Bailey hopes that he can use this opportunity to not only play in the NFL, but maybe even get a shot with his beloved hometown team. He knows it’s a long shot to make the team, but he welcomes the challenge.
“That’s what, you know, Philly is all about,” Bailey added. “Rocky Balboa, all those guys, that chip on your shoulder, fighting to the last breath. I wanna be that guy.”
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Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez is known for hosting offseason workouts in San Diego, and he always invites many of the team’s running backs and wide receivers. Bailey was invited, and he’s hoping to make the most of his chance.
