Hello: Ronnie Bell
[Darryl Woods/810 Varsity]
Ronnie Bell's football recruitment lasted all of a week. Michigan first contacted the Kansas City (MO) Park Hill wide receiver last Thursday. At the time, Bell intended to play college basketball at Missouri State, and held no offers for football despite a productive senior year. Michigan changed that, Bell changed his Twitter bio to read "University of Michigan Commit," and suddenly he's ticketed for the gridiron:
"They were shocked that I didn’t have any football offers," Bell said of the U-M staff. "I’m sure they were shocked that I was committed somewhere to play basketball and not football. I’m not really sure how my name got on their desk or how they found me. God works in amazing ways and he found a way to put my name on their desk.
"I never though this would happen. There were nights I would pray and I would just hope that a football school would give me an opportunity but for Michigan to be the school that did it I could’ve never imagined that. You can’t make something like that up."
Kansas State sniffed around before Bell make his commitment, but it doesn't look like anyone else will get a chance to change his mind; Bell plans to sign his LOI tomorrow, the first day of the new early signing period.
He is the 18th commit in the 2018 class and currently the only wide receiver.
GURU RATINGS
Rivals | ESPN | 247 | 247 Comp |
2* WR | NR WR |
3*, 85, #160 WR, #1078 Ovr |
3*, #226 WR, #1517 Ovr |
Bell got a cursory two-star grade from Rivals after they created his profile yesterday; ESPN hasn't ranked him yet after doing the same. 247 is the only site to attempt to give Bell a real evaluation, but as Allen Trieu explained on The Victors Board, his ceiling is capped by the current lack of information beyond his senior film:
Bell is a tough eval because we have never seen him in person. We looked at his film, but hard to gauge competition and what he's built like on just a highlight tape. We have him a conversative mid-ish three-star to start. I think that's fair for a guy without a huge offer list, without testing numbers we can see, without having been evaluated at camps on in-game.
Michigan has done an in-person evaluation of Bell.
Bell is listed at 6'1", 170 by Rivals and 247; ESPN docks him an inch.
[Hit THE JUMP for scouting, video, and more.]
SCOUTING
The internets are still bereft of scouting reports, so let's go right to the senior film:
I'm impressed. The main thing that stands out about Bell is his remarkable body control. He certainly has a basketball-worthy vertical and he uses every inch of it to high-point the ball (2:05, 3:00, 5:55); he can also contort his body to make circus catches (3:34, 8:39). He has great balance, which he combines with surprising power, plus agility, and decent long speed to get good YAC (3:10) and some spectacular sideline tightrope action (1:22). He's capable of running sharp routes (1:38) and has a good sense for setting up routes off the line (4:25, 7:13). He tracks the ball well in the air (5:05). He's even got some blocking chops; his senior reel features a few pancakes on the edge (3:56, 4:15, 7:58).
There are some potential drawbacks. We don't have testing numbers, but Bell doesn't look like he quite has that top gear to really blow the lid off a defense. At 6'1", he's also not a prototype jump-ball receiver. He'll have to rely on that leaping and ball-tracking ability for big plays, a la Junior Hemingway, who was quite a bit burlier. Other complaints are more technical; his first step off the line is inconsistent at least in part because he lines up with his feet too far apart. That's as much good news as bad; he'll be more explosive with some coaching up.
According to Steve Lorenz, here's what stood out to Pep Hamilton and Co. when Michigan did their evaluation:
I'm told Michigan was really impressed with Bell's explosiveness, ball skills and especially his body control.
Also his vertical leap, which...
...yeah, that'll do.
We're going to get to see how Drake Harris's career would've played out with functional hamstrings. (Fingers crossed.)
OFFERS
Just Michigan, though Lorenz says that's a product of Bell's focus on hoops:
It was reiterated to me that Bell would likely have "multiple" high-level offers if he had focused on football throughout the entirety of his recruitment rather than basketball.
The tape, plus the lack of football offers from the likes of Kansas, who should be offering any functional-looking football player in the region, back that up.
HIGH SCHOOL
Kansas City Park Hill plays in the largest classification in Missouri, though the area competition isn't of the quality you'd get in, for example, Detroit. Bell with be the fourth Power Five signee to hail from the program, according to the Rivals database. He's the second to head to Michigan, joining 2012 five-star DT Ondre Pipkins.
STATS
After recording stat lines of 17-232-4 and 53-639-6 as a sophomore and junior, Bell's numbers shot up to 89 receptions for 1605 yards (18.0 YPC) and 21 touchdowns (fourth-most in state history) as a senior. He added 163 yards and three scores on 15 rushes and a punt return touchdown. He won the Simone Award as the best high school football player in Kansas City; notable previous winners include Ladell Betts, Darren Sproles, Josh Freeman, Nathan Scheelhaase, and Evan Boehm.
FAKE 40 TIME
None listed; no surprise, as Bell didn't participate in any football camps.
VIDEO
Senior highlights reeeeeeeeeemix:
Some hoops highlights:
Junior highlights and single-game reels can be found on his Hudl page.
PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE
Bell should get plenty of time to get used to his new #1 sport. Michigan brings back all off their wide receivers from this season other than Moe Ways, which means getting Tarik Black back from injury and Oliver Martin free of his redshirt. Also, as we were reminded this year, freshman receivers undergo a major transition period. Bell should get a redshirt.
After that, he'll start clawing for snaps behind, for the most part, the epic receiver haul of 2017. Given the competition, it'll probably take a few years before Bell gets significant playing time, giving him a chance to hone his technique before being pressured to produce. I certainly like his chances of outproducing his current ratings; to me, he looks like a four-star prospect. He has the film, the statistical production, and the local accolades, he just had to choose the sport.
UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS
Michigan stands at 18 commits in a class that'll reach the low 20s. Top targets going forward include DE Eyabi Anoma, DTs Tyler Friday and Rick Sandidge, and OTs Nicholas Petit-Frere and Jarrett Patterson. Sam Webb posted that Bell's commitment won't stop Michigan from continuing their pursuit of four-star WRs JaMarr Chase and Chris Olave, either.
Here's the class as it currently stands:
December 19th, 2017 at 2:49 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 5:49 PM ^
I saw a lot of potential Big XII defensive players in his highlight tape.
On a serious note, Bell has impressively soft hands and nice athleticism (sans top speed). I look forward to yelling "That a boy, Ronnie!" at my TV screen in a few years.
December 19th, 2017 at 4:37 PM ^
Mayfield, VanSumeren, and Hayes played against in high school.
December 19th, 2017 at 2:58 PM ^
Geez, that was like watching Spike Webb win the slam dunk contest back in the day.
Highlly impressive jumping ability!
December 19th, 2017 at 3:04 PM ^
Wasn't it Spud Webb? maybe i'm wrong.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^
No, it was Spud Albrecht
December 19th, 2017 at 3:40 PM ^
Pretty sure it was Suds Mackenzie.
December 19th, 2017 at 6:46 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 3:07 PM ^
I'm the master of typos this week for some reason
December 19th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^
It was Spud Webb wasnt it?
December 19th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^
It was Spud Webb wasnt it?
December 19th, 2017 at 2:58 PM ^
WELCOME Mr. Bell!
I know that there are some who question this offer, to a guy who is not highly ranked with multiple stars, etc.
Yet, I seem to recall a lot of questioning of the offer to Tarik Black last recruiting cycle, and earlier this year people were subsequently bemoaning his season-ending injury.
So, we'll see how he develops and how things pan out.
Frankly, I trust coaches' evaluations a lot more than recruitniks, but that's me.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:01 PM ^
Seems to have great hands. It is nice to see a receiver not just blowing by a DB for a long pass. He shows some great wiggle after the catch.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^
I am
a) NOT a Starz gazer
b) strongly supportive of anything Harbaugh thinks is best
That being said, in a class the size of our '18 class - Ronnie Bell better turn out to be a MONSTER!!!
I am reasonably confident he will, starting in '20 when DPJ & possibly Tarik are drafted in the 1st Rd. Just feel like maybe we could've waited til '19 to add a WR who likely won't play much if at all til '20?
If this were a draft, and we'd gotten him in the 5-7th rd, I'd be elated with this sleeper.
But then, I probably thought we only took Metellus to make Bush want to come to Michigan more than he otherwise may have, so whadda I know?!
December 19th, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^
If DPJ and Black blow up, they're likely to leave early. And as this article mentioned, Bell is likely to redshirt in '18. That means the '19 season is the only season in which they would overlap, and I'm fine with having a rFr see the field occasionally before we depend on him as a sophomore.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:44 PM ^
My post was pretty much predicated on DPJ & possibly Black being gone by '20. So if a WR is gonna get some snaps in '19 for experience, I'd just as soon it be a blue-chip true frosh as a project R-frosh.
That was my only point, given that the '18 class is so small.
But as I also said, hoping Bell turns out to be a monster, a great recruiting find by a staff that looks deeper than Starz and thinks outside the box!!
December 19th, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^
Go Blue!
December 19th, 2017 at 3:07 PM ^
So is Michael Barrett not a take at this point? Multiple reports headed into his Michigan OV indicated that he was likely to commit. Not only has that not happened, he's not even listed at the end of this post with the rest of Michigan's remaining main targets. What gives?
December 19th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^
Harbaugh better have actually scouted this kid. If we're offering him based on stats and highlights alone, he's doomed to ride the bench for five years. His top end speed doesn't look like anything special and he gets off the ball so slow.
How come not even Missouri or Kansas has offered this kid? Enormous red flag right there.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 3:39 PM ^
Yeah, I read it. That does absolutely nothing to assuage my concern. Kansas still has plenty of spots left in their class, and none of their current commits are WRs. Kansas City is right in their backyard. Why haven't they offered?
"It was reiterated to me that Bell would likely have "multiple" high-level offers if he had focused on football throughout the entirety of his recruitment rather than basketball."
Reiterated by who? Probably his coach would be my guess. Not exactly an unbiased third party. Regardless, this quote is worthless without a source.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^
Exactly. Why would we waste time scouting him if he had already committed to play basketball elsewhere?
The answer: we probably didn't scout him, and instead are offering him solely based on highlight tapes. That makes me nervous.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:08 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 3:30 PM ^
the kid is athletic as all hell. He has very good hands and incredible leaping ability. He needs a few things cleaned up, but nothing that an RS year won't fix. He could be one hell of a slot guy for us, with the ability to move outside on occassion. Sure his speed may not be top end, but they can make him quicker.
I think he has a chance to play some as a RS Freshman and could see him as a punt returner also.
December 20th, 2017 at 6:57 AM ^
December 20th, 2017 at 11:57 PM ^
Thanks for the input.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:11 PM ^
Does anyone feel similarly?
Also, it is worth mentioning that some positive things took place this past weekend with Otis Reese: the Luke Bryan/ Reese Parents/ Frey & Partridge photo as well as a tweet from Otis in a Michigan pullover.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:38 PM ^
or just grant perry, sans roids
December 19th, 2017 at 3:41 PM ^
Yeah, Grant Perry on estradiol. This kid is significantly skinnier than Perry was as a recruit.
December 20th, 2017 at 4:10 AM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 3:18 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 3:24 PM ^
That's called having good hips.
December 19th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^
Hey Magnus, you follow recuiting as closely as anyone. How many spots do you think are left? 4?
Basically, I want you to convince me that the fact the coaches are taking flyers on people like Bell doesn't mean I should stop hoping for Reese and Petit-Frere.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:25 PM ^
He runs like a flamingo!
December 19th, 2017 at 3:24 PM ^
He's a project, but this class feels like it's got a couple of those guys. Coaches must like what they see because they don't necessarily need to a take a flyer on someone just for the sake of filling scholarships; last year's haul means you could conceivably skip the spot this year without there being a huge hole.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:24 PM ^
Welcome Ronnie! I like the guy in the vertical video that's going to draw the charge until Ronnie's knee is in his face and then thinks better of it.
December 19th, 2017 at 6:22 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 6:10 PM ^
How can it be dissappointing?
We went 8-4...........Couple that with all the negative publicity Michigan got with losing all our big games. Michigans 8-4 record might as well have been 4-8 because the national media LOVES to hate Michigan and feed the Michigan haters.
Were lucky we even have the #12th ranked class
When he ARE successful in 2018s season then 2019s class will be a MONSTER. Already is a mini fetus monster with the ones we have committed
December 19th, 2017 at 6:38 PM ^
If we can hold onto Otis and pick up Tyler Friday and Petit-Frere then I think many of us will consider this class to be pretty good with some significant upside.
December 19th, 2017 at 9:04 PM ^
That would be a solid and balanced class, particularly considering the numbers crunch and the lack of high end talent in Michigan this year.
December 20th, 2017 at 11:22 AM ^
It's too early to be disappointed. I'd wait until national signing day if ratings and rankings are how you judge the recruiting classes.
Personally, I judge them by the number of wins and losses they produce. That is solely on my belief that Harbaugh and Co. know exactly what they are doing.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:42 PM ^
December 19th, 2017 at 3:51 PM ^
I've been reading stuff on this blog for a year now and also the comments. Today I just set up my account so I can weigh in on the important issues of the day, football-wise. Don't know how upvote and downvote works, but my instincts tell me I'm going to be a huge upvote getter in the coming days, months and years.
I'm probably older than most of you and often times wonder why I spend so much time wondering and worrying about whether a particular 16 or 17 year old high school kid is going to choose UM over OSU, Georgia or . . . . Anyone else feel like "hey, I need to get a life".
That's all for now. Let the upvotes begin. When I get enough, do I get to turn them in for a small bag of curly fries?
December 19th, 2017 at 4:13 PM ^
No, you'll probably want to opt for the short 'n curlies
December 19th, 2017 at 6:41 PM ^
about a troll infestation?
Comments