Name: Kendrick Bell
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 191 lbs.
High school: Kansas City (MO) Park Hill
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #12
Last year: I ranked Bell #134 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 74
The younger brother of Ronnie Bell is probably sick of being referred to as the younger brother of Ronnie Bell, but I guess that comes with the territory until you make a name for yourself. Kendrick was a high school quarterback who didn’t quite look the part of a Big Ten quarterback, even though Jim Harbaugh and Co. referred to him as a quarterback when he signed on as a part of the class of 2023. But by the time the season rolled around, he was in the receiver room with Ronald Bellamy.
Bell was an easy choice to have redshirt last season. Not only was he a position-switcher, but he was listed at just 180 pounds, which is light . . . especially at 6’2″. The receiver group in 2024 isn’t quite as deep, though, at least not when it comes to experience. Both Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson moved on to the NFL, and rotator Darrius Clemons transferred to Oregon State. That cleared out three spots, and while two transfers (Amorion Walker and C.J. Charleston) were brought in to help replace them, there’s still some room for other guys to step in. Kirk Campbell recently said that Bell was in the running to play, but I still think he’s at least a year away from being a factor. Bell did have a long touchdown catch in the spring game, but what some people overlooked was that the “corner” he beat was a walk-on safety pressed into cornerback action because of the split squad. And even with that, I didn’t love the lack of adjustment from Bell when the ball was in the air.
The older brother of Kendrick Bell was also an under-the-radar player until he wasn’t, so perhaps Kendrick will follow in those footsteps. But we’re probably looking at 2025 or beyond for a significant contribution.
Prediction: Backup wide receiver
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