Ohio State defensive back Vonn Bell, who played at Ridgeland High School in Rossville, Ga., returned from an offseason injury and had six interceptions last year to help lead the Buckeyes to the national championship in the first College Football Playoff.Just a year ago, Vonn Bell was still recovering from a torn MCL in his left knee and battling for a backup spot in a loaded Ohio State secondary heading into fall camp.
But after a season-opening loss to Virginia Tech, the former five-star recruit from Ridgeland High School, never one to back away from the spotlight, claimed a starting spot at safety and remained there for the next 14 games – all wins – as the Buckeyes rolled to a national championship.
As he prepares for his junior season, Bell – who remained in Columbus to work out and take two summer classes during the offseason – is widely recognized as one of Ohio State’s top playmakers. He is ranked among the top overall defensive players in the Big Ten by Athlon and Phil Steele’s preseason publications, and Bell is also on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation’s top defensive back.
“I feel like that’s what should be expected of me,” the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Bell said recently. “My position coach told me I should expect to be one of the top defensive backs in the nation. That’s what I’ve worked toward and that’s how I have to believe in myself.
“But really this preseason is no different in how I prepare. I was a young guy trying to grab my role, now I’m trying to be a leader and a backbone of the defense. The next step for me is being more vocal and a communicator on the field.”