Vonn Bell, the AJC Super 11 safety, had a unique way to narrow down to his three finalists.
AJC Super 11 DB Vonn Bell (AJC)
The 4-star football recruit from Ridgeland High School threw three loaded questions to each of his seven favorites – Alabama, UGA, Clemson, Tennessee, Ohio State, Texas and Vanderbilt.
“Vonn and his family just wanted the facts from a few fact-finding questions,” Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis told the AJC. “They had already done all the fluff questions and conversations. They had seen the facilities and trophies. They wanted to get down to the nitty gritty with the facts.”
So what were the three magical questions from Vonn Bell?
- How could you help my job career after college? “He wants to go into coaching at the college level,” Mariakis said. “He just wanted to know what the college could offer in that area of academics with the educational part, the opportunity for a young man to get some job experience, and just what their plan academically was for him.”
- What is your graduation plan for me? “When do they see him graduating at their school?” Mariakis said. “Do they put you on a 3.5-year plan, four-year plan, or for five years? And if a kid gets off track, what do they do to get him back on track?”
- Where and when do I play football? “Third and final were the football questions: Where do they see him playing? How soon do they see him playing?” Mariakis said. “What were their plans for him as a football player in their program?”
Vonn Bell's coach: "I think Alabama is just Alabama" (AP)
Obviously, Bell liked the answers he heard from Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio State — as those three have made it to the final round.
“I think those three schools, they all kind of bring something different to the table,” Mariakis said. “I think Tennessee brings the emotional side. He has been a Tennessee fan for his whole life.
“I think Alabama is just Alabama. They’re playing for a national championship every year here recently. I think the pull of playing DB at Alabama and being coached at that position by Coach[Nick Saban] is a pull for any young football player who has dreams of going on to big-time football.
And then Ohio State has been at the top of the list since Day One. Him and Coach [Urban Meyer] hit it off first time they met and talked. He had a good camp there and really enjoyed the staff and the facilities. His parents have enjoyed Ohio State’s campus and everything about it.
“All three of them bring something strong to the table. It will be a tough decision for him to get it down to one school.”
And what about UGA? “Vonn liked Coach [Mark Richt] and liked Georgia. It was kind of a tough decision for him. He’s a kid who is very relationship-oriented. And that has been the toughest thing for him – to tell somebody ‘no.’ Coach Richt and that program are all about relationships. It was really tough for him to eliminate them, along with the other schools, too. But a decision had to be made, and he made it.”
What’s next for Bell? He will narrow down to one school after taking official visits to each of the three finalists. Bell does not claim a favorite out of the three, although Tennessee is rumored to be the school to beat, with Ohio State as the darkhorse contender.
