BREAKDOWN: Georgia wide receiver commitment Dillon Bell

Let’s dive in on the two key aspects of Georgia’s new addition with Dillon Bell.

First, we’ll examine what he brings to the field.

Next, we’ll dive in on where the wide receiver search goes from here.

CHECKING THE TAPE

At 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, Bell looks to be right in the sweet spot of size for recent Georgia wideout additions, such as his friend Adonai Mitchell.

He pairs the frame with an impressive vertical jump and a physicality in the air which aids in his ability to win jump balls.

While that’s a huge asset to his game, what may be his biggest strength is the ability to work the short area and make those who could seemingly put a hand on him miss.

Bell shows himself elusive in tight spaces and flashes the ability to find the crease. When he’s able to find some daylight, he’s got the acceleration to pull away from the competition and go for six.

When he’s not in the middle of traffic and creating (well) and, instead, dealing with the open field, Bell’s certainly got the speed to create problems for opposing defenses, as well. Frequently used on the sweep or direct snap for his team, Bell’s ability to accelerate early allows him to hit his lane and blow past defenders with relative ease.

One thing I’d like to see a bit more of from him on film is blocking. I’m not calling it a weakness in his game, but it’s not something I’m really able to evaluate given what he’s got on his reel. Blocking is such a key to Georgia’s offense (and Kirby Smart, in particular), meaning it’s something fully fleshed out before Bell heads to Athens.

Still, there’s plenty of usable clay here for Cortez Hankton to work with.

LOOKING AHEAD

Bell gives the Bulldogs a second commit at the wideout position, joining North Cobb’s De’Nylon Morrissette, but after going light at the spot in the Class of 2021, there’s reason to believe the push will continue strongly.

Certainly among the targets to watch out for will be Virginia-based wideout Andre Greene Jr.. He’s a highly coveted commodity in Athens, but the Dawgs are far from alone in their pursuit. Look for UNC to be a major factor for Greene, as well. For now, the Heels look to hold the edge.

Oklahoma pledge Luther Burden is another must watch on Georgia’s receiver wishlist, and he appears to have wandering eyes as of late. Still, if the Sooners maintain the prolific offense they’ve become so well known for, it may be hard to lure away one of the top pass catchers in the cycle. A strong showing by Georgia early on could be a major boost to the chance, however.

Morrissette’s teammate, Sam Mbake, is still on the radar, and his will be a senior season many teams tune into closely. His junior campaign wasn’t as strong as his sophomore year, so he’ll be looking to recapture some of that hype. Perhaps the transfer to North Cobb will give him the fresh start needed to do so.

Recently offered Calhoun wideout Cole Speer may also be able to boost the ranks, and he’s an early Dawg lean after adding them to his list.

Elsewhere, Shazz Preston, Leon Haughton, and Omari Kelly could also find themselves seeing an upped pursuit if some of the aforementioned fall to the wayside or begin to look elsewhere.

How the class shakes out at the spot likely comes down to Georgia’s on-field performance this fall. Prospects will be taking notes to see if the Bulldogs are serious about getting to the air and following the high-flying trend we’ve seen take over the game in recent seasons. The onus is on Monken and company to deliver what they want to see if they hope to reel in some of the remaining elites in the country.

Photo: (Dillon Bell/Twitter)