CALHOUN, Ga.-C.J. Bell doesn't talk about his play on the football field, but his play says more than enough.
The 6-foot, 235-pound Gordon Central senior linebacker may be soft-spoken off the field, but the hits he lays on opposing running backs are plenty loud -- and plentiful. Bell, a three-year starter, enters the 4-1 Warriors' off week with 79 tackles and two forced fumbles.
"The biggest thing about C.J. is that he's sideline-to-sideline, he plays 100 mph and he loves physical contact," Gordon Central coach Chad Fisher said. "He's a kid that really loves the game of football. We've set up our defense to take advantage of him and make him the focus point.
"The biggest attribute he has is his toughness and the speed with which he plays the game. His speed allows him to make up for any mistakes he might make."
Bell's performance in an opening-week 52-27 win over Model had Fisher and his coaches checking the game video twice to make sure his 35 tackles (27 solo) were legitimate.
"He was all over the field that night," Fisher said of Bell's school-record performance. "People got to see what we've been seeing for three years now. He just has an extreme football instinct."
Added Bell, in a rare moment of personal praise: "That game was awesome. I didn't think much about it, but I told some people before that game that I wanted to break the record."
Due to injuries in the linebacking corps, Bell was moved around from his inside position and opposing teams quickly noticed and began running away from him. He was back at middle linebacker last Friday in a surprising 22-21 overtime win over Dade County, though a deep shoulder bruise -- an injury Fisher said would have severely limited most linebackers -- sent him to the sideline in the second half.
He came back one play later.
"That injury wasn't going to keep me out. It was Dade County and we owed them one," said Bell, referring to last year's triple-overtime home loss to the Wolverines. "They were tough, but we just went after them. It feels like we're good and people are starting to know it. It was a big shock for a lot of people."
Bell, who entered his senior year with 218 career tackles, has been good since he first hit the field as a freshman, though he really took off the next season when his teammates surprised him by voting Bell the team's defensive MVP.
Despite all the accolades and highlight-film plays, college recruiters are just now warming up to Bell. Fisher believes his lack of height is hurting him.
"He's going to visit UAB and he's getting interest from UTC, Western Kentucky, Georgia Southern and Jacksonville State," Fisher said. "I think the future is bright for him. He's got his test scores and his GPA. People just want to evaluate him. He's got to have a humongous year to get consideration from SEC and ACC schools because he's 6 feet tall instead of 6-2 or 6-3.
"If he was that tall, he would have every BCS offer known to man. I tell the recruiters they just need to come watch him and then they'll know. I firmly believe he's the best linebacker in northwest Georgia."