"I just started watching Dexter McCluster last year, and we have the same
game," added Da'Shawn Bell. "That's when I got interested in Ole Miss.
I like to run the ball, and I know Coach Nutt likes to run it. I have been watching
his teams since Darren McFadden was there. I heard they were interested in me
so I came down there to check it out with my teammate, Dwight Trammer. I spoke
to their running back coach and decided to come look at it."
What did he learn about the Rebels?
"The town is a real college town. It is a football school. That is all
everyone talks about. People knew who I was out of nowhere. It was crazy. I
did not expect for it to be that good, but it is the best school I have seen
so far."
What stood out the most?
"The coaches. They all said hello and introduced themselves to me. They
just gave me that warm feeling. I guess you could say the have that southern
hospitality to them. They told me to come back to one of their summer camps
so they can get a look at me up close. Coach (Derrick) Nix said he wanted to
coach me at one his camps so he can try and get me an offer."
What questions did Da' Shawn have before he came on the trip and were they answered?
"I asked them about their business school so they drove me around and took
me on a tour of their business school. It was first class. That was mainly what
was on my mind. The school was just way better than I expected. When we were
driving there, I did not really see anything. I was like, man, this place is
out in the middle of nowhere. But then we got to the town and saw the campus
and football stadium. I was like, man, this place is nice. The people were so
friendly. I love that southern hospitality they show you. I am not used to that."
Where all has Bell visited so far?
"I have been to Michigan, Michigan State, Central Michigan, Toledo and
now Ole Miss and MTSU."
Any future visits on tap?
"I am going to Ohio, Syracuse, Notre Dame, and Ohio State in the next few
weeks."
Who are the top schools right now?
"Really, Ole Miss, Michigan, Central Michigan, and Michigan State."
What is going on with Michigan?
"They like me. I am a change of pace back, and they me to come over there
and go to one of their camps too so I can get a feel for working out with their
running back coach."
And Michigan State?
"Their running back coach watched my film and said I was a good back. They
want me to come to one of their camps too. I am going to a bunch of camps this
summer like Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss and Central Michigan,
just a bunch. Everyone is telling me pretty much the same thing. Come work out
with their running back coach to see if we mesh or not."
Da'Shawn rushed for 1, 205 yards and 9 TD's in the 2010 campaign.
Yancy Porter is the Recruiting Manager for the State of Mississippi and he
can be reached at yporter@scout.com