Ridgeland standout Vonn Bell to start in BCS Orange Bowl
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) -- Late December, the perfect time to reflect on the past year. It's something Ridgeland grad Vonn Bell likes to do with a smile on his face. He's had a lot to be thankful forand it's only getting better as he enters the new year at Ohio State.
Bell will suit up in the BCS Orange Bowl, all because of a decision he made almost a year ago.
Bell said, "looking back it's wow how things just change so fast - less than a year ago I was trying to make a decisionand you all were in my face who are you picking?"
The lifelong Vol fan and Ridgeland grad Vonn Bell made what he calls a business decision and that business decision has Bell starting in the BCS Orange Bowl.
"It's still like wow. I look back to my freshman year at Central. I told them I just wanna be in the game and run in front of a crowd of 100,000 it's every kids dreamand I'm just living it," said Bell. "Going to a BCS game it's every kids dream. I'm just fortunate enough to play in it, just blessed to be a part of something special like that."
Playing time hasn't been at a premium for Bell, the Orange Bowl will be his second start of the season.
It's all about earning trust, "coach Meyer and my position coach they've been on me all season to play from day one. They gotta learn to trust a young guy going in. That's the part, you gotta keep showing them each weekand I have been. They're finally giving me the opportunity and I'm just blessed with it," said Bell.
With trust comes leadership. Something Bell plans to be a part of next season, "I wanna be a leader on the football team, be one of those strong leaders that people go to. Be a defensive leader, a defensive presence and make the other team fear you."
Lately not many have feared the Ohio State defense. Bell takes that personally and says adjustments will be made before the Orange Bowl against Clemson.
In the meantime don't be surprised if we see Bell on the other side of the ball. He's been lobbying Head Coach Urban Meyer to let him show off his play making skills that we saw every Friday in high school.
"I tell coach Meyer every practice, just give me the ball I'm gonna score for you. He said he might make it happen. I said just turn on my highlight film from high school. He said he'll give me one kickoff or something. I said give me one reverse and I'll have that whole horseshoe going crazy. I just tell him if I have the ball throw your hands up because it's going to the endzone."
As he did so many times at Ridgeland, a school with a coaching staff he still holds close to his heart, "coach Mariakis and coach Klein they always text me before games. Coach Mariakis came to a game, it was just a joy to see them. It was snowing too so he got a taste of the north. I really look back and thank them almost everyday for being there and opening there arms up, I'm just really thankful for them."
Kickoff in the Orange Bowl is set for 8pm January 3rd in Miami.
