William M. Raines High School has been a public school factory for producing professional caliber talent in football, Terry LeCount, Brian Dawkins, Lito Sheppard, and Derrick and Jabar Gaffney to name a few. Twins Joshua and Jaquan Bailey of Jacksonville, Florida, hope to join that list going into their junior season.
When they first set foot on the campus of Raines High School, they were followed by a history of academic and discipline issues from middle school. After joining coach Deran Wiley and the Vikings, those issues are gone. Joshua and Jaquan Bailey are dual sophomore threats. Joshua, 6’3″ and 250 pounds, plays on the offensive and defensive line. Jaquan, 6’3″ and 220 pounds, plays defensive end and linebacker. The brothers came to the Raines High School football program determined to make names for themselves. Their hard work and dedication to football earned them a chance to play at the varsity level in ninth grade. Playing on opposite sides of the ball and living together, there is no way these two young men can avoid each other on or off the field. 
They compete every day in practice to make it known that there’s no such thing as brotherly love between the whistles in practice. “We save that for home,” Jaquan says. They’re very well mannered and show tremendous respect to others off the field. Joshua is a two-sport athlete who also competes as a swimmer to stay competitive during the offseason. Jaquan works on perfecting his craft as a defensive end/linebacker by training year round for football. As an offensive lineman, there’s no clear cut way to show dominance without a couple thousand-yard rushers on your team. Joshua prides himself in how many times he puts his man on his back, and as a sophomore, he’s building a pretty big list. Jaquan has racked up 13 sacks as a sophomore while playing at Raines High School. These two fierce competitors love the big stages.
The Vikings finished their 2013 season 4-0 in the district and 9-3 overall. Every game is a big game for the brothers playing their first full season on the highest level of high school sports. Joshua has the stature of the prototypical Division 1 offensive lineman. With his size alone, scouts who have seen his film are amazed by his footwork, hips, strength and speed. “You don’t see coordination from most kids with that kind of size this early,” a scout said.
Jaquan is a raw talent that causes disruptions in the run and the pass game. He has good hand placement, power, strength and speed. Scouts have compared him to Jevon Kearse. The Bailey brothers put in a lot of hard work on the mental aspect of the game by watching film to correct their mistakes as they continue to grow and learn the complex systems run at Raines. “Each day is a day to get better, to learn and grow as a better player,” Joshua says.
Sophomore Standouts/Jacksonville/March 2014
Joshua and Jaquan Bailey
William M. Raines High School
Jacksonville, FL
By Joey Lopes
Raines High School Produces double impact standouts
