Once a quarterback, Kendrick Bell starting to settle in as wide receiver for Michigan

When former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh told then-freshman Kendrick Bell that he’d be moving from quarterback to wide receiver, Bell was less than thrilled.

“At first, when Coach Harbaugh said that, my heart dropped,” Bell said Tuesday. “And I was not ready, because I had not played receiver in I don’t know how long. But (wide receivers coach Ron) Bellamy was stoked for it. He was happy for it. He’d seen my basketball highlights, and he knew that he could turn me into something.”

This past Saturday, the now-sophomore wideout earned his first career start. Bell grabbed a seven-yard reception against then-No. 3 Texas, his second of the season following an 11-yard catch in Week 1. By no means is he putting up crazy numbers, but he’s playing a significant portion of the 17th-ranked Wolverines’ offensive snaps, and he’s settling in more and more with every route.

At the time of that daunting conversation with Harbaugh, though, Bell hadn’t played receiver since eighth grade. 

As one of the few players in high school who could effectively throw the ball, he became a quarterback and expected to continue as a signal caller at Michigan. But after the initial shock of hearing that he needed to revert back to his middle school position, Bell took the change in stride.

Playing exclusively on scout team last year as he adjusted to the receivers room, Bell started showing his development in the Wolverines’ Spring Game this past April. Using his 6-foot-2 frame to his advantage, he hauled in a 42-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Davis Warren.

“I feel like if you put the ball anywhere near me, I feel like I can go get it,” Bell said. “My route running is still getting better and better. But my height, my biggest strength right now is if you put the ball anywhere near me, I’ll go get it.”

Heading into his second season and first competing for a starting role, however, Bell was sidelined with a shoulder injury. He was forced to miss all of fall camp this year, leaving him with doubts about how much playing time he’d get in early matchups.

“I didn’t think I was gonna do a whole lot, but I feel like I had a really good week,” Bell said. “And after that first catch, Coach Bellamy was like, ‘You ready?’ I was like, ‘I’m ready.’ So I feel like I did well and I earned those snaps.”

Bell played around 30 snaps in Week 1 and nearly 40 in Week 2. Confident in his ability to leverage his length and prove himself in practice, he seems on track for more opportunities. 

Michigan will continue building plays around junior tight end Colston Loveland, who has received the majority of targets thus far — and rightfully so, according to Bell. As opposing teams key in on Loveland, though, Bell provides an explosive and rapidly developing option. Even with minimal experience as a collegiate wideout, he earned himself a start against a top-three team in the nation.

“It was a blessing,” Bell said. “I worked my tail off to be able to get to that spot, but I feel like I can always be better. From watching the film on Saturday, I know I can do better. I feel like I can make more plays out there.”

Just a year ago, Bell’s future role as a Wolverine was uncertain. But now, after successfully switching positions and working his way up the depth chart, Bell has cemented himself as a key contributor within Michigan’s wide receivers room.

The post Once a quarterback, Kendrick Bell starting to settle in as wide receiver for Michigan appeared first on The Michigan Daily.


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