Athlete Renard Bell commits to play at WSU
Proud & Blessed To say Ive committed to Washington State University #Wazzu #GoCougs 🐾🐾🐾🏈 pic.twitter.com/xIK7Sv8APG
— Renard Bell (@_RB11Era) May 28, 2015
In the early afternoon on Thursday, Renard Bell of Cathedral HS in Los Angeles called WSU assistant Roy Manning.
Manning, a linebacker coach but the primary recruiter for the Cougars in southern California, has been recruiting Bell since early April, texting him or touching base almost every day.
That constant contact paid off, because Bell was calling to tell Manning that he plans on playing for WSU next fall.
"They showed a lot of love. They were the first team to offer me and ever since they offered me, they could not stop showing me love," Bell said. "My parents loved it and they were the school really showing me love out of all the offers that I have. So I felt comfortable and decided to go ahead and commit."
Bell also explained how Manning formed a relationship with him, saying, "They were being cool, asking me how my day was going, how's school, asking about track because I'm a track guy. They were joking around a lot and I felt very comfortable."
The Cougars initially recruited Bell as a cornerback, but the offensive coaches thought his talents as a receiver also merited a scholarship. Eventually they told the speedster, who clocked a 10.89 100-meter dash this spring, that he could play on either side of the ball. He says he prefers receiver.
Bell says he also had scholarship offers from Fresno State, San Diego State and Nevada.
"And I was talking to a lot of schools, Wyoming, UCLA, Boise State, Arizona State, Utah, Utah State and Colorado, and a couple other schools," He added. "But Washington State hit me up every day, every week and they were just keeping up with me."
Bell is friends with Jalen Thompson and Daevon Vigilant of Downey High in California, both of whom already have scholarship offers from the Cougars.
He will take an unofficial visit to WSU in June and then an official visit in the fall. He hasn't ruled out visiting other schools to compare, but says he will first talk with WSU's coaches.
