Bell looks forward to Norman
Quarterback not letting the pressure to play his college ball in-state get to him
WICHITA, Kan. -- Shortly after leading his Bishop Carroll team to a come-from-behind 36-34 victory against Kapaun Mount Carmel, Oklahoma quarterback commit Blake Bell wanted to set the record straight.
Apparently, the solid play of Sooners backup quarterback Landry Jones when 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was sidelined with an injury had caused there to be some talk that Bell may look around at other schools. Jones, a redshirt freshman, threw for 861 yards and 10 touchdowns in a shade under four complete games this year while Bradford was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
"People say that I am looking back on my decision," Bell said. "But I am a Sooner and I am going to be a Sooner. A lot of schools have been coming in now after Bradford went down. But I am set on my decision so I can concentrate on winning a state championship."
In the crowd of more than 5,000 at Friday night's nationally televised win, there were quite a number of fans wearing Kansas Jayhawks or Kansas State Wildcats gear. Bell was asked if there was any hometown pressure to perhaps take a second look at the Big 12 North programs. To Bell, it's just the reality of living in the largest city in the Sunflower State.
"I get a lot of crap, but that's just what you are going to have to deal with living in Kansas," he said. "But there are a lot of Sooner folks here, too, actually. It's kind of weird. After I committed, I started seeing Sooner hats and shirts everywhere. It's been a fun process, but I am glad it's over with."
On the field, Bell showed off considerable skill in the victory, which clinched the third straight district title for his team. He threw for 239 yards and a touchdown and added 80 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Following the game, his skill set was compared to a variety of current quarterbacks, including former Arkansas signal-caller Matt Jones and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Not bad for only his second year playing quarterback.
"I just try to be Blake," he said. "But in that second half, we got the running game going. I like to run the ball, too. That's what we wanted to do is get the running game established so we could set up the pass a little better."
Receiver Tyler Nance, who was on the receiving end of a 72-yard touchdown pass from Bell in the first quarter and finished with 187 receiving yards in the game, cited Bell's significant ability as a reason his team was able to rally from a 21-7 deficit.
"[Bell] is a great leader," Nance said. "We came out really flat that first half and he really got us picked up and going the second half."
Overcoming adversity is a key to being a successful quarterback and Bell feels he is better prepared in his second season than in his first.
"I am playing with more composure," Bell said. "Stuff wasn't going our way out there tonight, but we hung in there and made plays."
Nance also cited his quarterback's improvement year over year.
"I can see that having the second year, his confidence has gone up quite a bit," Nance said. "Even in his first year, he was pretty confident but you can see that now he is even more confident."
Bell was named an Elite 11 quarterback and attended the three-day camp during the summer with many of the nation's other top signal-callers. The experience in Southern California was a positive in his development, particularly with regard to the mental side of the game.
"It helped me not just physically, but mentally too," he said. "They prepare you watching film and different things like that."
JC Shurburtt covers recruiting for ESPN.com. He can be reached at jcsespn@aol.com.
