The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1493247
2023 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE 48 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2023 BY EJ HOLLAND Kendrick Bell put together a monster game in Week 2 of his senior season, passing for 459 yards and 5 touchdowns to go along with 68 yards on the ground. While his Kansas City (Mo.) Park Hill team fell to Peculiar (Mo.) Raymore-Pe- culiar, 57-50, in a heartbreaking barn- burner, Bell raised plenty of eyebrows with his gutsy performance. In fact, Bell received a very special call that same weekend. "My phone rang, and I didn't even know who it was," Bell said. "I just saw the location was Ann Arbor. I answered and said, 'Who is this?' It was Coach [Jim] Harbaugh, and I stood up right away. He said he watched the film with all the coaches and loved it. He said they were offering, and my heart dropped. Having a big-time offer like that was great." Bell, a three-star prospect, had just one FBS offer going into his senior cam- paign. Much like his older brother, Mich- igan wide receiver Ronnie Bell, Kendrick flew completely under the radar until his final year of high school. Just a month after receiving the call from Harbaugh, Bell hopped on a plane to Ann Arbor for an official visit and committed three days later. "I really trust the coaches at Michi- gan," he said. "I also know there is more than just football at Michigan. It sets you up for success after you graduate. "Michigan really took care of my brother, and I feel like they'll be able to take care of me as well. That played a big role." Bell has plenty of potential as a true dual-threat quarterback, but his ath- leticism could lead to a position change down the line. Along with being a star on the football field, he is also a starter for his high school basketball team and ad- vanced to the Missouri state track meet in the high jump. While Bell would like to stick under center, he is more than willing to play multiple roles for the Wolverines. "They are going to give me a chance to play quarterback, but I was honest with Coach Harbaugh and told him I'll play whatever to help the team win," Bell said. "I'll play defensive back, wide receiver or special teams. I'm athletic enough to do it. I do prefer to be a quarterback because I feel like I've gotten pretty good at it over the last few years." Bell will be motivated to create his own legacy wherever he lines up. Following in Ronnie's footsteps was a major ac- complishment. Now, he wants to be even better than his older sibling. "Being known as Ronnie's brother has always been a thing," Bell said. "It's fine because I'm fortunate to have a brother like him. He led the way for me, and I have to follow it. But I want to be known as Kendrick. I can't wait to show the people what I can do." ❏ Quarterback Kendrick Bell Is Making A Name For Himself 2023 Projection Bell will not get the benefit of going through spring practices — he is not set to arrive in Ann Arbor until June. The in- triguing athlete will start off in the quar- terback room and will likely sit behind JJ McCarthy, Davis Warren and Alex Orji. Bell could stick at quarterback depending on how he performs at practices but may ultimately switch positions. He is a red- shirt candidate. Bell is an elite athlete who will begin his U-M career at quarterback. In coming to Ann Arbor, he is following in his brother Ronnie's footsteps. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND STATISTICS Year Cmp.-Att. Pct. Yds. TD Rush Yds. TD 2022 224-339 .661 3,228 35 670 10 2021 207-339 .611 2,267 21 313 7 HONORS • First-team Class 6 all-state as a senior. • Named the most outstanding high school football player in the Kansas City area with the Thomas A. Simone Award in 2022. • Kansas City Suburban Conference Silver Division first-team honoree. • Class 6 District 4 first-team all-district • Set school records in passing yards, completions and completion percentage his senior year at Park Hill. • Part of two playoff teams and won a playoff game in each year as a starting quarterback. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan on Oct. 17, 2022, after receiving offer in September 2022. • Picked U-M over offers from UMass and Northern Iowa. • Recruited by head coach Jim Harbaugh. DID YOU KNOW? • Earned letters in basketball at Park Hill, where he was an all-district selection. • Also lettered in track and field, where he was a state qualifier in the long jump, high jump and triple jump events. • Holds personal-best records of 21 feet, 9.75 inches in the long jump, 6-5.25 in the high jump and 43-3.25 in the triple jump. • Twin brother, Marqueas, is committed to play basketball at Southeast Missouri State. • Older brother, Ronnie, was a two-time cap- tain and two-time Big Ten champion with U-M (2018-22) and is now off to the NFL. • Ronnie (2017) and Kendrick (2022) are the first pair of brothers to win the Thomas A. Simone Award as the most outstanding high school football player in Kansas City in its 87-year history. • Son of Aaron and Renee Bell. • Born April 20, 2004. KENDRICK BELL QUARTERBACK 6-3 • 180 PARK HILL HIGH KANSAS CITY, MO. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 881 47 21 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 25 12 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 95 26 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 19 22 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 38 18 consensus THEY SAID IT Park Hill head coach Andy Sims: "His ability to extend plays and use his athleti- cism is phenomenal. At the same time, he doesn't lack arm talent, either. There is a tremendous skill set to work with."