If you see Antwon Bailey on Syracuse's campus, chances are he's heading to, or just got out of, a meeting.

Bailey attends more meetings than a CEO. That's because he plays running back, receiver and quarterback in the Wildcat formation while also returning kicks for the Orange. So he's in the room whenever all of those positions gather to watch film and go over pointers. Lately, Bailey has even begun attending some offensive line meetings just to get a feel for what those guys are doing, too.

"It comes with the territory," Bailey said. "I like to know everything, and I want to know what everybody's doing. It just gives you a sense of the play, and because I play so many different positions on the field, I have to know what's going on in case they line me up there."

No wonder, then, that Syracuse coach Doug Marrone recently praised his versatile junior's knowledge of the offense by calling him a walking playbook.

Bailey did a little bit of everything last year, running for 312 yards on 67 carries, catching 27 balls for 200 yards and returning seven kicks. His breakout game came against Rutgers, where he produced 181 all-purpose yards, including 77 yards on 16 carries and three catches for 47 yards.

With Syracuse looking to become even more dynamic and unpredictable on offense this year, Bailey could take on a larger role. He loves moving around to different spots on the field.

"It's a lot of fun," he said. "It takes me back to football at its simplest form -- just going out there and being an athlete, playing and having fun. When you get to run the ball, catch the ball and block for your teammates, you're having fun."

For a while this summer, it looked like Bailey might have a more defined job. With last year's leading rusher, Delone Carter, suspended until just after training camp began and third-string tailback Averin Collier likely ineligible, Bailey was the lone experienced running back on the roster.

"I had to take a deeper role this summer," he said. "I was taking almost all of the reps at our player-run functions. At the beginning of the summer, I took a look around and was like, 'Wow, I'm one of the older dudes with this offense.' It was a reality check for me."

But Carter was reinstated, and so was the pecking order in the Orange backfield. Carter is a powerful runner, a bull who's tough to bring down. The 5-foot8-, 192-pound Bailey is a smaller, quicker back who brings a change of pace.

"I think we complement each other in great ways," he said.

And who knows the Syracuse offense's strengths and weaknesses better than its walking playbook?