Four-star wide receiver Phillip Bell commits to Ohio State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State and Brian Hartline have done it again. The wide receiver factory adds another major weapon for the future.
Four-star Mission Viejo (Calif) wide receiver Phillip Bell has committed to the Buckeyes. The 6-foot, 200-pound wideout committed to Ohio State over USC, Washington and Georgia.
Bell is the No. 179 overall prospect and the No. 20 wide receiver in the On3 Industry Rankings.
His decision doesn’t come as a surprise, given the predictions in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, but it doesn’t take away from the juice of the news. Bell has been high on the Buckeyes since going into his junior season.
Lettermen Row first spoke with Bell at OT7 Championships in Los Angeles in the summer of 2023 where he said this about the Buckeyes.
“That’s the place to get developed,” he said. “I feel like that’s every wide receiver’s dream school and that’s the dream for me.”
Bell visited Ohio State last fall for its game against Michigan State. He returned this spring for an unofficial visit and then in June for his official visit.
It was that official visit where the Buckeyes moved the needle for Bell.
“They know the biggest thing for me is development. I sat down with coach Brian Hartline and watched film. We talked a lot of ball. We went over a lot of things. He showed me how they would use me, where I would line up and how he could develop me.
“Then I met with coach Chip Kelly and we talked offense. He is a great mind and has had a lot of success in college and NFL, so I like him a lot. Coach Ryan Day was in there too, and he is an offensive-minded head coach that knows a lot about my side of the ball.
“The coaches know what was most important to me and they did a great job. If I went to Ohio State, I would be developed and have a chance to play for some great coaches.”
Bell is now wide receiver pledge No. 4 for the Buckeyes. He joins Quincy Porter, De’zie Jones and Bodpegn Miller in the class.
The Buckeyes are led offensively by five-star Plus+ quarterback Tavien St. Clair.
Four-star Cleveland (Ohio) Villa Angela St Joseph running back Bo Jackson, three-star Philadelphia (Pa) St. Joseph’s Prep running back Isaiah West, four-star Washington (Okla) tight end Nate Roberts, three-star Cleveland (Ohio) Gilmour Academy tight end Brody Lennon, offensive tackle Carter Lowe, IOL Jayvon McFadden and IOL Jake Cook round out the class for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have an impressive defensive class led by five-star Plus+ cornerbacks Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord, and five-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn.
Ohio State has done it again at wide receiver on the recruiting trail. Phillip Bell has committed to the Buckeyes.
