Bell Narrows Field to Three

Salisbury, Conn., defensive tackle Rich Bell spent the summer visiting schools around the nation and has decided at this point that three of the programs recruiting him stick out from the pack. Two of those programs have already offered written scholarships to Bell and an August visit to the Jayhawks could give him an option to pick between all three.

Rich Bell registered 83 tackles as a junior at Salisbury School, but his production behind the line of scrimmage is what has attracted schools around the nation. After making 15 tackles for loss and four sacks last season, this 6-foot-2, 271-pounder is being recruited by many schools as a one-gap, attacking defensive tackle. Bell has official narrowed the field down to three programs at this point and will decide prior to his senior season.

“Richie is down to three schools right now in Ohio, Western Michigan and Kansas unless something crazy happens,” Dick Bell said. “We are going to visit Kansas in August as Coach Mark Mangino and the rest of the coaching staff just want to eyeball him and get to know him. At that point they will be able to let us know if he has a scholarship and he can make a decision from there.”

“He is very comfortable with Coach (Carl) Pelini and Coach (Frank) Solich at Ohio and really loves the campus there,” Bell explained. “Western Michigan is another campus that he really liked and he is also very comfortable with the coaching staff. Another thing is that he just fits the defenses at these programs and that he is very comfortable which is most important. He and I both really feel it is a can’t lose situation and I know Rich is very happy with all of the choices he has.”

Bell has been officially observed doing 32 reps of 185 pounds and 24 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. He was also timed at 4.86 in the 40-yard dash, 4.23 in the short shuttle and has a 27-inch vertical.