The Recruiting Guy

Bell hopes Hill joins him in Fayetteville

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICKMCFARLAND --03/01/12-- Junction City's Jamario Bell jumps over E. Poinsett's Darius Barnes in their 2A State Finals Basketball tournament game Thursday in Hot Springs.

Arkansas commitment and Junction City tight end-defensive end JaMario Bell is like Razorback fans in hoping receiver North Little Rock K.J. Hill pledges to the Hogs on Friday.

“I would love K.J. and I to go to Fayetteville together and play football,” Bell said. “We’re real tight. We grew up together and it really would mean a lot. We started off playing a lot of AAU basketball together and around the sixth and seventh grade. We just kept the bond together and kept on hanging out a lot.”

Bell, 6-6, 248, 4.7 seconds in the 40 yard dash, has been committed to the Hogs since August of last year. He was named second team tight end on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Preseason All Arkansas team.

During the Nike Training Camp in April, Bell weighed 228 pounds but has since added 20 to his frame. He said he packed on the weight through working out and increased appetite.

“Everything I could get my hands on,” said Bell of his diet. “Some of it was good stuff and some of it was McDonalds. A lot of it was steak. peanut butter and milk. Things of that nature and I kind of got on protein shakes too.”

“I look a lot more toned. I’ve gotten a lot bigger, but you can just tell my muscles have gotten bigger.”

Bell, who played for the Arkansas Wings during the spring and summer, said he's slowed down his communication with Hill.

“I haven’t texted him lately, but at one time I was texting him a lot almost everyday,” Bell said.

Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. and defensive line coach Rory Segrest keep in touch with Bell.

“I’m talking to both of them right now,” Bell said. “I’m talking to coach Lunney a lot and I’m talking to coach Segrest too. Making sure I keep working in the classroom and working in the weight room and make sure I’m ready to come up there.”

Oklahoma State, Auburn, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State haven’t stopped recruiting Bell.

“I just tell them I’m committed to Arkansas,” Bell said. “If everything goes as planned, that’s where I’ll end up, if no coaching changes happens I will be going to Arkansas.”

Coach Bret Bielema and his staff were a big part of Bell’s decision to be a Hog.

“Coach Bielema really made it feel like home,” Bell said. “All the coaches made it feel like home. I can see them develop my skills and get ready to go to the next level.”