Click for Corey Bell Highlights
2016 Chiawana (Pasco, Wa.) two-way athlete Corey Bell is a player to keep an eye on this fall. Because he suffered a knee injury in the first month of the season, he knows he needs to prove to college coaches that he can be a difference-maker at the next level.
“I started four games, but then I tore my ACL and my Meniscus,” Bell told Northwest Elite Index. “I was returning a punt and a kid tried to swing me by my jersey. As I was spinning out of it, I tried to put my foot in the ground and that’s when my left knee buckled.”
Bell had surgery in November and his focus from that point on was getting back in time to take part in spring ball, which he was able to participate in fully.
“I’m eight months out now. It was a terrible experience, but I feel like it’s only going to make me better, both mentally and as a player,” Bell said.
Bell spent his sophomore season at South Kitsap before moving to Pasco and enrolling at Chiawana.
“On offense I’m more of a slot back,” Bell noted. “On defense I play both corner and safety and I feel comfortable doing either one of those. I’m also a returner, so I spend a lot of time on the field.
“On offense, I’m at my best when I have the ball in open field I can make people miss & turn a 13-yard play into a 70-yard touchdown. On defense, I feel as a safety I play the run best and at corner my man coverage is probably my best skill.”
Because he missed most of his junior campaign, he knows he’s got plenty to work on and that’s been his focus this offseason.
“As a receiver I’m working on my footwork so my routes can become more crisp and smooth,” Bell said. “For defense, I’ve really been trying to focus on opening up my hips better and getting them stronger and more explosive and then of course I’ve been lifting trying to become stronger and more explosive overall.”
As far as recruiting is concerned, Bell hasn’t received much in the way of interest, but he has heard from a couple of schools.
“Portland State and Columbia have had coaches message with me and I’ve heard from some coaches through my recruiting profile on NCSA, but so far, that’s about it,” Bell noted.
At 5’10” and 175 pounds, Bell is a compact player with outstanding ball skills Bell seems to project better on the defensive side of the ball. Assuming he’s able to stay healthy, he might be one of the most underrated players in the state. Coming from a program like Chiawanna, you can be sure Bell is well-coached and he’ll be strong in the classroom as well as being a performer on the field as well.
