The Ohio State football program is known as one of the best in the country comes to recruiting and developing wide receiver. Players like Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, and Michael Thomas have come through Columbus.
That’s like a huge part of why Phillip Bell III wanted to join Ohio State. Bell, a four-star recruit, has committed to the Buckeyes. Ohio State staved off competition like USC, a program much closer to where Bell grew up.
“Buckeye type,” he said when talking with On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Bell was ranked as the 30th-best receiver in the Class of 2025 and the 22nd-best player from the state of California.
BREAKING: Four-Star WR Phillip Bell III has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’2 195 WR from Mission Viejo, CA chose the Buckeyes over USC
“Buckeye type, I love you mom #zone6ski”https://t.co/4BpvXSmOp6 pic.twitter.com/q6GtBghpA2
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 1, 2024
247Sports lead expert Steve Lorenz had it pegged as a 100% prediction that he would end up at USC; however, Brian Hartline and his staff have done it again.
Bell had offers from Washington, Penn State, Georgia, and USC as well as Ohio State.
“Bell has been one of the state’s top wide outs since his freshman year. Transferred in to Mission Viejo for his junior season and although the production wasn’t the same, the talent is still easy to see. Has looked very good at multiple off-season events this Spring and was a Top Performer for us at the SoCal Under Armour Next Camp in March and the Elite 11/All-22 event in Las Vegas in May. Has an athletic 6-2, 195 pound frame with plenty of length, excellent ball skills and high level body control,” Greg Biggins, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports wrote.
Bell took official visits to Washington, Penn State, Ohio State and USC on sequential Fridays starting in late May.
Ohio State doesn’t have any of the six 5-star receivers for the Class of 2025 locked in with five of those six having already committed. It does have the 12th-best receiver, Quincy Porter, committed though.
