Bell looking toward summer

Earlier this year Warren Central (Miss.) junior Devon Bell attended junior day at Mississippi State. But with a busy baseball slate, the kicker/punter prospect hasn't had the opportunity to visit any other programs and that has him anxious for the summer.

"Baseball takes up a lot of my time," said Bell. "And it's going pretty good right now. I am mainly just pitching and playing some at third. I think I am 5-1 or 5-2 with a no-hitter and a 1.89 era.

"I have been trying to manage some trips in to see some schools but it's hard to do that. So I probably will wait until this summer. I know I am going to go to the Rafter Pro Training Camp and then go to camps at Mississippi State and Ole Miss."

Since receiving interest from MSU and Ole Miss, Bell noted more schools are sending him letters now and showing interest.

"I am actually starting to hear more and get more letters from different schools," said Bell. "Mississippi State is showing me the most interest and Ole Miss is showing some. I am start now to get letters from Tennessee and more of late from Colorado. I am also hearing from Louisiana-Lafayette, Southeastern Louisiana and Brown University."

And like his previous discussions about his recruitment, Bell said he sees his best opportunity at Mississippi State.

"Things are going with Mississippi State," said Bell. "I would say I am mosted interested in them and also that they are showing me the most interest. Ole Miss is showing interest, too, but I am not sure what they will offer me. They said I would probably be a backup kicker at first because they return their kicker from this year. But I know at Mississippi State I could compete for the top spot because they are losing a senior kicker this year."

Last year the 6-foot and 182-pound Bell put 21 of his 25 kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks and also averaged 43 yards on his punts. Eying the 2011 season, Bell wants to better those numbers.

"We start spring in two or three weeks," said Bell. "But it depends on the baseball playoffs on whether or not I can practice this spring. But I've been kicking on my own and I do that every day. This year I want to make every kickoff a touchback and be perfect on extra points and field goals. I also want to average 44 yards punting and those are my goals."