Texas offers two 2025 defensive tackles committed to SEC schools
Texas offered two defensive tackles from Georgia on Wednesday night — Caleb Bell from Alpharetta and Joseph Mbatchou from Loganville Grayson. Bell, the son of former NFL Rookie of the Year Kendrell Bell, is committed to Arkansas, while Mbatchou is committed to Florida.
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Both schools’ head coaches have something in common beyond coaching in the SEC. They are both on thin ice at their respective jobs and Florida has an absolutely brutal schedule. (If Florida shows fight this year that isn’t necessarily reflected in its final record hopefully the decision-makers take that into account but that’s a story for a different day)
No surprise given his blood lines, but Bell looks the part when it comes to length at 6-foot-3. He’s listed at 260 pounds but whatever. That’s not a concern and he looks like he weighs more. A bigger concern might be his commitment to Arkansas being made with a teammate.
Bell originally chose the Razorbacks over offers from NC State, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Louisville and others. NC State was his first offer and it was earned at camp where coaches can more accurately assess the total package of player, frame, and person. Missouri was in his final five so we’re talking about some quality SEC programs being involved and then NC State with a very good defensive staff being his first offer. There are some good leading indicators here.
Bell has visited Arkansas three times so Texas will have some ground to make up.
Mbatchou is much more open. He didn’t even receive his Florida offer until July 27 and then committed four days later. Auburn and South Carolina offered earlier in the week and he’s already stated he plans to visit both.
He recently told On3’s Florida affiliate, “Getting the Auburn and South Carolina offers meant a lot to me, but I knew they came after Florida. I’m going to go to those schools to see how they are, see what type of people they have up there. But I don’t think anything is going to change my decision for right now.”
There’s a reason Mbatchou is such a late-riser. Also from Gators online, “In a very short amount of time, Mbatchou has impressed college coaches with his frame and his skillset. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive lineman did not begin playing football until earlier this year. The Gators became his first Power 5 offer. He does not yet have an On3 ranking but that likely will come this week.
With scholarship limits changing, Mbatchou is exactly the time of long-curve, high upside player schools will be trying to stockpile.
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Defensive tackle is the biggest need in the Texas class and now defensive tackles coach Kenny Baker has two more options.
