From the IU Media Relations Department:
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - James Bailey became the third Hoosier (fourth time) to be recognized by the Big Ten this season, picking up the league's special teams player of the week honor for the first time in his career on Nov. 12. Junior kicker Austin Starr also earned the special teams award earlier this year, while Kellen Lewis has picked up offensive player of the week accolades on two occasions.
The junior wideout, who filled in for the injured Marcus Thigpen at Northwestern, returned a kickoff 91 yards to paydirt. It marked the first kickoff return TD of Bailey\0xB9s career and the first since Thigpen raced one back 98 yards at Illinois on Oct. 7 last season, which earned Thigpen player of the week recognition.
Bailey finished the contest with 161 yards on four returns (40.3), which ranks third in a single game in Hoosier history. The Detroit native also holds the fourth-best single-game mark after running back six kicks for 159 yards at Michigan State on Oct. 13. In addition, Bailey downed a punt by Michael Hines to pin Northwestern at its own one-yard line.
On the season, Bailey sits 15th nationally and third in the Big Ten with a 28.6 average. He also leads all kick returners in league games only with 31.1 yards per return. -------- For whatever reason, Bailey has been in Bill Lynch's doghouse for most of this year. He's been a third and fourth option at wide receiver for the Hoosiers, and yet, he's shown his playmaking ability quite often when he's had the opportunity. Is James Bailey the Hoosiers best option after James Hardy? Or, what do you think about Bailey as a receiver for IU in general?
