WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue's Markus Bailey was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 215th overall pick in seventh round of the 2020 National Football League Draft. Bailey, a four-year starter at linebacker for the Boilermakers and a native of Columbus, Ohio, will begin his professional career a mere 107 miles from home.
Bailey appeared in 43 games at Purdue with 40 starts during his collegiate career. He finished with 327 total tackles, including 229 solo stops, with 28.0 for losses and 13.5 sacks. His tackle total is 14th all-time in Purdue history, his solo tackle tally ranks 11th, TFL total tied for 20th and sacks mark is 12th in the Boilermakers' record book.
Bailey twice led the Boilermakers in tackles for a season, finishing with 97 stops as a redshirt freshman in 2016 and a career-high 115 stops as a junior in 2018. His junior campaign proved to be his finest at Purdue, along with the career-high in total tackles, he led the Boilermakers with 5.5 sacks and was second on the team with 9.0 TFLs. In Purdue's historic upset of No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 20, 2018, Bailey returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown against his hometown team.
Bailey is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and graduated from Purdue with a bachelor's degree in movement and sports science in December of 2018.
After not having a linebacker selected in the NFL draft since 2004, Bailey joins Ja'Whaun Bentley, a sixth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2018, as two Boilermakers from the position room tabbed in the last three years.
Bailey appeared in 43 games at Purdue with 40 starts during his collegiate career. He finished with 327 total tackles, including 229 solo stops, with 28.0 for losses and 13.5 sacks. His tackle total is 14th all-time in Purdue history, his solo tackle tally ranks 11th, TFL total tied for 20th and sacks mark is 12th in the Boilermakers' record book.
Bailey twice led the Boilermakers in tackles for a season, finishing with 97 stops as a redshirt freshman in 2016 and a career-high 115 stops as a junior in 2018. His junior campaign proved to be his finest at Purdue, along with the career-high in total tackles, he led the Boilermakers with 5.5 sacks and was second on the team with 9.0 TFLs. In Purdue's historic upset of No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 20, 2018, Bailey returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown against his hometown team.
Bailey is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and graduated from Purdue with a bachelor's degree in movement and sports science in December of 2018.
After not having a linebacker selected in the NFL draft since 2004, Bailey joins Ja'Whaun Bentley, a sixth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2018, as two Boilermakers from the position room tabbed in the last three years.