Coming in bigger and stronger, four-star USC freshman could help at two positions
Incoming South Carolina freshman Jaheim Bell probably could have hit his target weight with just a little more time.
Listed at 207 pounds, he’d been put on a diet by team nutritionist Kristin Coggin to bulk up for his future at the tight end position.
Some Gamecocks had trouble finding spots to work out during the coronavirus pandemic. It was not as much of an issue for him, even if the quick turnaround to enroll after colleges were allowed to bring players to campus left him a bit short of his goal.
“They wanted him to be 230 when he gets there,” said Dolores Bell, Jaheim Bell’s mother. “He’s at 225 now. He would’ve been there if he had come later, but they can put on the last couple pounds.”
Getting to that point speaks to an impressive run from a torn ACL that ended his high school senior season early to enrolling at USC the first part of June. He’d posted videos and photos on social media about his return from the injury, the last one showing that those extra pounds appear to be good weight.
Coaches have had worries about players’ approach to weightlifting and conditioning without the structure of school in the wake of the pandemic. Bell said he has been preparing for his departure from Valdosta, Georgia, and arrival in Columbia since high school and college campuses closed in mid-March.
“I’ve just been working out every day,” Bell said before enrolling, “doing what coaches asked and all that.”
Getting up to 230 pounds would at the very least help if the staff wants to use him as a blocker in the box. A tall, natural playmaker, his position in college was considered a bit of a question mark.
On one hand, he was recruited to play tight end and has a frame that could make him deadly in the team’s flexed-out role. On the other, the Gamecocks are short at outside receiver. He’s heard all the talk about it, and he doesn’t have too much of a preference.
“I’ve heard a lot of that, but it doesn’t matter,” Bell said. “I’m just (excited) to play football again.”
He was an all-over playmaker on the high school level, putting up 770 yards as a junior and 210 in five games as a senior. He sometimes helped out as a rusher taking direct snaps.
As a high-ceiling leaper, he could be a problem for both slot and outside defenders, and projects as a piece the staff could move all over once he starts moving toward his potential.
Another advantage he has is a familiarity with both tight ends coach Bobby Bentley and receivers coach Joe Cox. Bentley was a key part of the recruiting effort, and Cox, who spent a few months as tight ends coach, also recruited Bell while at his last school, Colorado State.
Bell said he’d come far enough in his rehab that his knee was not only doing great, but he’s also been doing football-specific workouts.
“These past couple weeks, I’ve been normally been working on footwork,” Bell said. “But I’ve been running a lot of different routes and catching a lot of different passes. I’ve been still training.”
The Gamecocks will need playmakers after losing five of their top eight pass catchers off a team that often struggled to find enough consistent options. Bell might be able to answer some questions there.
At tight end, Nick Muse is the top returning option. In a pinch, Muse and grad transfer fullback/tight end Adam Prentice could likely hold down the position. But the staff tends to deploy depth there, and Bell projects to be battling classmate Eric Shaw, plus a trio of redshirt freshmen in Traevon Kenion, KeShawn Toney and former wide receiver Keveon Mullins.
At receiver, Shi Smith is a proven target, but Xavier Legette, Josh Vann, Dakereon Joyner, OrTre Smith and a few others have yet to prove their consistency.
Simply put, if he can help as a pass catcher, he’ll likely have the chance to do so.
South Carolina can begin in-person, voluntary workouts with players on Monday. Before then, players are returning to campus, being tested for the coronavirus and preparing for team workouts that will be structured with safety top of mind.
On his move-in day Wednesday, Bell posted pictures to social media from around Columbia and shopping at Walmart. He arrived a few days into USC’s move-in efforts so his family could organize the trip.
Before enrolling, he tried to see people around town, a rite of passage for almost anyone moving off to college. His mom had to deal with some of those natural feelings, seeing her only son leave home. She even chuckled a little talking about her then-soon-to-be-empty nest, but she also spoke like someone who knew her son was prepared for it.
“He’s ready to get out there and start being with his teammates,” Dolores Bell said. “It’s one thing to work out, but it’s different when you’re working out with your team.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 5:22 AM.
