By Chad Wilson – Editor – Gridiron Studs Blog
Twitter: @GridironStuds
Say the name Chance Bell. It has a ring to it doesn’t it? That sounds like the kind of football name that you would remember and one so perfect for a running back. However, there’s more to the prospect than the name alone. If you’ve had a chance encounter with Bell on the football field, your ankles are likely still mad at you for it. Bell is a cut master and we are not talking on two turntables.
Bell was a sophomore sensation for The Burroughs High School Indians in Burbank, California. Moving from Las Vegas to Burbank, Bell led Burroughs in rushing with 1,150 yards on just 15o carries (7.5 average). In so doing, Bell became the first sophomore in the school’s history to rush for 1,o00 yards. The sophomore prospect will dazzle you with vision, footwork and change of direction. He flashes the elements that really excite college football coaches. Bell will remind you of a young Edgerrin James who could slice an opposing defense like a butcher cuts meat. For defenders it has to seem as though Bell has eyes on the side of his head as he makes moves on defenders that would appear to be outside of his peripheral vision.
Bell’s production will only increase as he adds size, strength and speed to his frame. I can see him becoming a nightmare and three straight 1,000 yard season would appear to be a formality barring injury. Watching Bell, you realize instantly that he has likely been carrying the football for as long as he can remember. Natural runners like Bell are what record breaking running backs are made of. I do not know the rushing records at Burroughs high school but I am fairly certain Bell will own them by the time he walks across the stage to grab his diploma.
Running back like Chance Bell is a problem for defenders in the open field as he does a solid job of setting up blocks and defenders for his myriad of jukes, fakes and escapes. Burroughs has not been a perennial power in Southern California but I suspect that their respect level will go up with Bell in the backfield toting the mail. He is definitely one to watch out for in coming seasons as a top prospect in a hot bed of college football talent like Southern Cal. Opposing teams and their defenders will spend the next two seasons trying to avoid wearing a dunce cap on Bell’s future highlight reels.
Check out Chance Bell’s Sophomore Highlight Video
Chad Wilson is a college football recruiting expert and creator of the GridironStudsApp which allows high school football players to gain exposure to college football coaches and fans. Wilson is a former college football player for the University of Miami (92-94) and Long Beach St. (’90-’91) and played briefly for the Seattle Seahawks (’95). He is also a former youth and high school football coach for over 15 years most recently for 5-A State of Florida Champs American Heritage. He runs All Eyes DB Camp a defensive back training company located in South Florida IG: @alleyesdbcamp. Wilson’s oldest son Quincy plays in the NFL for the New York Giants and his younger son plays cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals.