David Bailey has become one of the most feared pass rushers in the country during his time at Texas Tech. While his draft stock is on the rise, occasional off-field incidents have raised some discussion about his overall outlook.
David Bailey Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Recent Off-Field Incidents
A concerning incident involving Bailey was circulated on X this week, showing him stomping on the face of an NC State player in 2024. The clip appears to show Bailey, then a star at Stanford, intentionally stepping on the helmet of a downed opponent while getting up. He was ejected in the second half and, although he remained on the sideline, was not allowed to return to the game.
Before this, Bailey had largely been regarded as a disciplined leader on defense, with many viewing the incident as an isolated lapse rather than a recurring issue.
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However, his name resurfaced in controversy during the 2025 season following Arizona State’s 26-22 upset over Texas Tech on Oct. 18. After fans rushed the field in celebration, photographer Mark Rebilas alleged that Bailey confronted and physically engaged with him while he was working.
A later-emerging video appears to show Bailey approaching Rebilas from behind, confronting him face-to-face, and exchanging words. Staff members quickly intervened to de-escalate the situation, but Bailey appeared to grab Rebilas before others stepped in to separate them.
Rebilas later shared a now-deleted post explaining the incident, which read:
“After ASU won the game, the fans would rush the field to celebrate. Unfortunately, I don’t have any cool photos from this because I was busy filing a police report after the star player on the losing team took issue with me doing my job and thought he needed to put his hands on me. Got a little scary as multiple players joined in with their teammate but thankfully the ASU chief of police saw it happen and helped get the players away from me. Good times!”
Despite these off-field concerns, Bailey’s on-field performance continues to elevate his draft stock. His rare combination of explosiveness and production has positioned him as a potential top-five pick, with some projections even linking him as high as No. 2 overall to the New York Jets.
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NFL insider Albert Breer said in a conversation with Todd McShay on Wednesday that some teams are treating Bailey’s selection near the top of the draft as almost inevitable. In cases like this, franchises often weigh elite talent against character concerns.
When a prospect is seen as a potential game-changing defensive presence, teams may be willing to take the risk. They often trust that a strong locker room culture and strong leadership can help guide him. Bailey capped off the 2025 season with a 93.3 grade and an A- evaluation, finishing No. 1 in the PFSN College Football EDGE Impact Metric.
