USC football: Dion Bailey is making transition to safety

USC’s Dion Bailey does not anticipate a long transition to playing safety.

The fourth-year junior came to USC from Lakewood High in 2010 as a safety but redshirted and then started at linebacker the last two seasons.

Now he’s back in the secondary, hoping to provide playmaking and leadership.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Bailey had a team-best four interceptions last season. He sat out spring practice while recovering from shoulder surgery.

“I just have to get used to moving like a defensive back all the time,” Bailey said after the Trojans’ first training camp practice on Saturday.

After two seasons playing close to the line of scrimmage against bigger linemen and tight ends, Bailey welcomes the change to the secondary.

“There’s a lot more action up close but I like being back deep,” he said. “You can see everything, and everything is moving a lot slower so you can react better.”

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