Levelle Bailey

American football player (born 2000)

American football player
Levelle Bailey
No. 56 – Denver Broncos
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2000-12-04) December 4, 2000 (age 23)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:Luther Burbank
(Sacramento, California)
College:Fresno State (2019–2023)
Undrafted:2024
Career history
  • Denver Broncos (2024–present)*
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-Mountain West (2023)
  • New Mexico Bowl Defensive MVP (2023)

Levelle Bailey (born December 4, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs and was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2024.

Early life

Bailey was born on December 4, 2000, in Sacramento, California to Lester Bailey and Diana Tapa.[1][2] He attended Luther Burbank High School where he was a top football and basketball athlete, being a first-team All-City selection in each sport.[1] As a senior in football, he was chosen second-team all-state after totaling 81 tackles and 7.0 tackles-for-loss (TFLs).[1] After his high school career, he was invited to the Optimist All-Star Classic game where he blocked two kicks.[3] He committed to play college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs.[1]

College career

As a true freshman at Fresno State in 2019, Bailey started five games and recorded 30 tackles and six TFLs.[4] He started five games again in 2020, posting 21 tackles while being named honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference (MWC).[1] In 2021, he started 12 games and was third on the team with 56 tackles, adding 8.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and six pass breakups, repeating as an honorable mention All-MWC pick.[1] The following season, he started all 14 games and was the Bulldogs leader with 88 tackles, earning his third honorable mention All-MWC selection.[5]

In his final year, 2023, Bailey served as a team captain.[6] He recorded 82 tackles, 2.5 sacks, five TFLs and three interceptions while being named second-team All-MWC.[7] He led the Bulldogs to a win in the 2023 New Mexico Bowl and was named the game's defensive MVP.[7] He received invites to the Hula Bowl and East–West Shrine Bowl at the conclusion of his collegiate career.[1] Bailey finished his stint at Fresno State having played in 58 games, tallying 277 tackles, 25.5 TFLs, seven sacks and six interceptions.[8]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+5⁄8 in
(1.87 m) 		227 lb
(103 kg) 		32 in
(0.81 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 4.73 s 1.73 s 2.76 s 4.36 s 7.23 s 31.5 in
(0.80 m)		 9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		 16 reps
All values from Pro Day[9]

After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, Bailey signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent.[10] In the team's preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals, he returned an interception 94-yards for a touchdown.[11]

On August 29, 2024, Bailey was waived by the Broncos after initially making the 53-man roster.[12] The next day, he was re-signed to the practice squad.[13]

Personal life

Bailey's father, Lester, is African-American and Bailey's mother, Diana, is from Tonga. He has six older siblings.[7]

In college, Bailey majored in kinesiology.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Levelle Bailey". Fresno State Bulldogs.
  2. ^ "Levelle Bailey". Fox Sports.
  3. ^ Davidson, Joe (January 19, 2019). "Burbank's Bailey with the block (twice) to lead South over North in Optimist Football". The Sacramento Bee.
  4. ^ Kenerly, Matthew (July 29, 2022). "2022 Mountain West Football Top 50: #43, Fresno State LB Levelle Bailey". Mountain West Wire.
  5. ^ Martinez, Angelique (July 30, 2023). "Bulldog Insider feature: Levelle Bailey". YourCentralValley.com. KSEE / KGPE.
  6. ^ Camarillo, Gabe (October 25, 2023). "Levelle Bailey grits through injury amid solid senior season". 247Sports.
  7. ^ a b c Tomasson, Chris (May 3, 2024). "Sean Payton's calls convince Fresno State linebacker Levelle Bailey to sign with Broncos". The Denver Gazette.
  8. ^ Wakeman, Travis (June 16, 2024). "Denver Broncos undrafted rookie spotlight: LB Levelle Bailey". The Sporting News.
  9. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Levelle Bailey College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Martinez, Angelique (July 16, 2024). "Former Bulldog Levelle Bailey gearing up for Broncos training camp". YourCentralValley.com. KSEE / KGPE.
  11. ^ Heath, Jon (August 25, 2024). "WATCH: Broncos LB Levelle Bailey grabs 94-yard pick-6 vs. Cardinals". USA Today.
  12. ^ Williams, Charean (August 29, 2024). "Broncos sign ILB Kristian Welch, waive ILB Levelle Bailey". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  13. ^ DiLalla, Aric (September 2, 2024). "Broncos sign ILB Levelle Bailey to practice squad". www.denverbroncos.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
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