Bell ready to make early impact
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ROSSVILLE, Ga. - There haven't been many recruits in recent history that have generated as much of a buzz around Buckeye Nation as five-star Rossville (Ga.) Ridgeland safety Vonn Bell. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound class of 2013 signee sent the Ohio State fan base into a state of euphoria on National Signing Day when he put on the OSU hat and gave the Buckeyes his commitment and signature. Reflecting on things now, Bell still looks back to how close things truly were and how much time it took for him to reach his decision.
"It was really two days before (National Signing Day)," said Bell, when asked when he knew he would pick Ohio State. "I didn't really tell anybody, I just kept it to myself, but it was two days before. I was kind of nervous (about the live announcement) but I was also excited. You put all that work in and prepare for that day so it's exciting."
Bell resisted the local pressure to stay home and play for Tennessee despite the several weeks of stressful buildup leading to National Signing Day. With the decision now in the rearview mirror, Bell is just happy to get back to normal, spending time with his family and focusing on football.
"I still hear a lot (about his decision) but things have started to slow down a bit and I'm just relaxing," he said. "It has calmed down a lot with the pressure and everything being off and you just relax and enjoy the moment now."
Bell's new focus is on becoming an impact player at Ohio State during his true freshman season. So far this spring he has done everything in his power to make that possible when he reports in to Columbus in June, including packing 16-pounds of muscle onto his frame.
"When I first started working out about two months ago I was at 177-pounds," Bell said. "I'm up to 193 now so I'm getting pretty big. I feel stronger and more explosive."
The biggest challenge Bell will face when it comes to early playing time isn't physical, however, it's mental. Bell knows that he is big, fast, and strong enough to play at the next level but he needs to make sure he understands all of his assignments. That is something that he won't be able to test and know for sure until the summer.
"I just want to get in and learn the system as quick as I can," he said. "Obviously this time of year, everyone is working for a spot. The coaches say they might put me at Nickel at first so coming out I have to just learn the system and listen to the coaches. I'm working hard on getting my body ready for those type of hits."
For more on Bell, check out our exclusive video interview above where he dives into a variety of topics surrounding Ohio State football, recruiting, and his family.
Some people have been having audio issues with this interview. We are attaching the audio file here as we attempt to find the reason why the audio is not working for everyone.
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