Michigan football NFL Draft profiles: WR Ronnie Bell
Michigan football had plenty of key players in its cultural turnaround and on-field success over the last few seasons. Chief among them is wide receiver Ronnie Bell, who has a chance to bring a solid skill-set and underrated athleticism to a team in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Here is a look at how Bell profiles to the next level.
Ronnie Bell background info
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 191 pounds
School: Michigan
Position: Wide receiver
Projected: 6th-7th round pick
Measurements (Combine): Height: 6-0, Weight: 191 lbs., Arm: 31″, Hand: 9 1/2″
Combine: Vertical jump: 38.5″, Broad jump: 10’0″, 40-yard dash: 4.54 seconds, Bench press: 14 reps
Strengths
Bell moves well in short areas and developed some really strong timing with the Michigan quarterbacks he worked with. The former high school basketball star tracks the ball well and has better ball skills that he showed in Ann Arbor, due in large part to a run-heavy offense. Speaking of the run game, Bell is a more than willing run blocker and never lost any of his contact courage coming off of a torn ACL in 2021. He will also bring special teams acumen and a potential kick and punt returner.
Weaknesses
The aforementioned torn ACL is something to keep an eye on, though modern medicine has made that less of a concern. Bell probably is limited in what his role can be at the next level and seems destined for slot wide receiver duties. He also lacks suddenness or elite speed. Bell also is not a huge threat to rack up yards after the catch, which limits his upside. He does a lot of things well, but is a master of none, and that hurts his upside in a pass-happy league where receivers are a dime a dozen.
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Ronnie Bell overview
Bell rose above the odds to become one of Michigan’s most reliable wideouts during his career, and he made an impact early. He was part of a room that included Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins and Tarik Black and was arguably as valuable as any of them. Bell was the most important given his leadership and being a part of the rising tide of senior leadership that helped take U-M to the next level in 2021-22.
Bell looks like a solid day-three receiver that could provide special teams value as a returner. It would not be a surprise at all to see him continue to have a productive career at the next level given that he does the little things well and is a reliable locker-room presence. Bell carries himself like a professional and could make an active roster this fall. He does have a torn ACL on his resume, but came all the way back in 2022 and showed little to suggest it will affect him moving forward.
