Signing day SpursUp: Talented athlete Jaheim Bell joins South Carolina’s 2020 class

It took some time, but at long last, Jaheim Bell is part of South Carolina’s 2020 recruiting class.

A 6-foot-4, 210-pound multi-positional three-star player, Bell announced he would be signing with the Gamecocks on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.

Bell was previously committed to Florida in mid-April, then dropped the Gators on the Fourth of July. Long considered a USC lean since then, he also took an official visit to Oklahoma and considered Florida State.

Bell is the No. 384 player in the 247Sports Composite rankings, fewer than 20 spots short of a four-star designation. He’s rated as the 40th-best player in Georgia and had an offer sheet including Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and a slew of other powers.

In high school, Bell played several offensive spots, including wide receiver, tight end, H-back and even direct-snap tailback. His high school stats list him with 52 catches, 770 yards, one receiving score and two rushing touchdowns in a pass-heavy scheme as a junior.

In fives games as a senior, Bell caught 10 passes for 210 yards but missed most of the season with a torn ACL.

He’ll likely end up a tight end, but at his height and weight, he could act as a receiver at times. The Gamecocks have previously taken a dynamic Georgia playmaker and made him a slot tight end before in 2016 recruit Kiel Pollard.

If he does wind up at tight end, Bell would be the second TE in the class along with Eric Shaw.

Bell recalled the plan Will Muschamp and Bryan McClendon laid out for him.

“They showed me different things about how they would use me in the offense at receiver,” Bell said. “I like it. It’s similar to what I do at my high school. It would be an easy transition. They’ve been telling me that pretty much I can come in and play right now. They just said they want to get me the ball the best way they can.”

When healthy, his coach, Alan Rodemaker, said he’s as good a playmaker as you can find at his position.

“He’s a freak, now,” Rodemaker said. “He’s a guy who in last year’s region basketball tournament tore down the backboard and shattered the backboard. He’s one of those guys very gifted. Probably got somewhere near 40 inch vertical, runs a 4.5 [40 yard dash]. He’s 6-3, 215 or 220, he’s just a freak athlete. He can do a lot of good things. He’s got great hand-eye coordination. He’s a running back, he’s a wide out, he’s a tight end, he’s a fullback, he’s whatever you want him to be.”

Phil Kornblut contributed

This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 1:05 PM.