All-American Bowl: David Bell commits to Purdue
SAN ANTONIO – Indianapolis wide receiver David Bell determined last June that he wanted to continue his career in the Big Ten Conference, but which conference program he would do that at was not revealed until the four-star prospect announced his decision at the All-American Bowl on Jan. 5.
Bell announced he would be attending Purdue University during the All-American Bowl telecast. Earlier this week the four-star prospect broke down what it was about Purdue that made the Boilermakers his choice.
“I like the coaching staff and I also like the type of style that they play,” he said. “They are pass-first, and that’s big for a wide receiver. Just to see the recruiting class they have coming in, that’s pretty good too.”
WHY IT’S BIG FOR PURDUE
Purdue already had the No. 2 ranked in-state prospect signed with defensive end George Karlaftis, another All-American Bowl participant, and now they add the No. 1 ranked in-state prospect. It is the first time Purdue has signed the top-ranked prospect in their home-state since 2005. The addition of Bell boosts Purdue into the top 25 of the national class recruiting rankings for 2019 and top five in the Big Ten. He becomes the headliner in a class that has five other four-star commitments. When Jeff Brohm decided to spurn his alma mater and remain the head coach at Purdue, it was prospects like Bell who gave him the vision of what this program could be. The Rivals100 prospect is a vertical threat who can take the top off a defense, and also brings that playmaker mentality that distinguishes the great ones. With fellow four-stars Milton Wright and Mershawn Rice, Bell forms a formidable future receiving corps that will attract other top talent, particularly at the quarterback position, to West Lafayette.
THE IMPACT FOR INDIANA
Penn State and Indiana finished in the place and show positions of this race, but the most notable impact is for Indiana. Purdue was long considered the team to beat for Bell and it would have been a major coup for the Hoosiers were they able to pull this one off. The biggest impact, though, is in what this means for in-state recruiting for the foreseeable future. Indiana is a talent pool on the rise, with 22 of the 59 total four and five-star prospects the state has produced in the Rivals.com era coming since 2015. The Hoosiers signed four of the top six players in the state this year, but with Purdue landing the top two you have to call this year’s battle a draw and take the fight for in-state supremacy into next year.
