Michael Vick has made his first major personnel decision of the 2026 season at Norfolk State, handing the offense to former SEC quarterback Deljay Bailey after an open competition that included Reginald “Reggie” Johnson.
Vick revealed during Monday’s MEAC coaches media call that Bailey will start Saturday when Norfolk State opens the season against Winston-Salem State.
The decision is notable because Johnson appeared to have the inside track just a few weeks ago. He was the only quarterback Norfolk State brought to MEAC Football Media Day in July, traditionally a sign that a player is expected to have a significant leadership role.
But Vick said nothing was guaranteed once training camp began.
“It was very competitive. It was open competition at every position,” Vick said. “And there were no set starters.”
When asked specifically about Johnson, Vick revealed that the competition had produced a different winner.
“Unfortunately right now, he’s not our starting quarterback,” Vick said. “It was, like I said, competition based, and somebody was able to surpass him based on the understanding, based on the production, based on the output.”
Then came the announcement.
“Deljay Bailey is our starter,” Vick said.
Former SEC quarterback Deljay Bailey takes over
Bailey arrives at Norfolk State with a winding college football résumé.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt junior is a native of Gautier, Mississippi. His college career began in the SEC at Ole Miss, where he redshirted during the 2023 season and did not appear in a game.
He moved to Grambling State in 2024 and appeared in seven games, completing 39 of 72 passes for 440 yards. Bailey also rushed for two touchdowns. His most productive performance came against Bethune-Cookman, when he threw for 206 yards and added a rushing touchdown.
Bailey took another step forward at Itawamba Community College in 2025.
He completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns, including a three-touchdown performance against Holmes Community College. Norfolk State added him as part of its 2026 recruiting class.
Johnson brought impressive production of his own. The 6-foot-3 junior threw for 2,116 yards and 19 touchdowns at San Diego Mesa last season while adding 255 rushing yards and five scores.
Still, Bailey did enough during camp to take QB1.
Michael Vick learned from last year’s quarterback decision
The way Michael Vick handled this competition also offers a contrast to his first season at Norfolk State.
Vick entered 2025 with Israel Carter as his starting quarterback. Carter started each of Norfolk State’s first two games, but Otto Kuhns finished both.
The second instance proved especially significant. Carter started against Virginia State, but Kuhns helped finish off Norfolk State’s 34-31 overtime victory. Days later, Vick officially moved Kuhns into the starting role ahead of a matchup with Rutgers.
That experience is relevant now.
Vick has repeatedly acknowledged that his first year as a head coach taught him lessons about patience, evaluation and attention to detail. During Monday’s call, he estimated that he got “about 70 percent right” during his first season and said there remained plenty of room for growth.
He also admitted that he wanted things to happen too quickly in Year One.
“I didn’t have the same poise last year that I have now,” Vick said. “I didn’t have the same patience for teaching.”
This time, Vick appears willing to let the competition determine the depth chart before Norfolk State plays a meaningful snap.
That meant changing course even after Johnson represented the quarterback room at MEAC Media Day.
Vick said the lesson for Johnson now is the same one that applies throughout his roster: compete, continue developing and be ready when another opportunity arrives.
“Reggie is not our starting quarterback, but he’s still in line and learning each and every day,” Vick said.
For a coach whose own playing career made the quarterback position synonymous with his name, the decision carries extra scrutiny.
A year ago, Michael Vick had to make his quarterback change after the season had already begun.
This year, the former SEC quarterback who won the competition will get the first opportunity to make sure Vick doesn’t have to do it again.