West Virginia’s Jimmy Bell is currently figuring out what he wants to do next. Bell — who played basketball for Bob Huggins this past season — could find himself playing on the gridiron come fall for Neal Brown.
It was made public that Bell had joined the football team for spring practice last week with Brown calling it nothing more than a trial run.
“I’m trying to keep expectations within reason,” Brown said. “The things Jimmy has that are natural and there is some crossover between what he’s asked to do in basketball and playing offensive line and playing some tight end.”
Bell last played football his junior year of high school. He would go to prep school, but they didn’t have football there and he has played basketball since then.
“He’s extremely coachable, he works hard. I think he’s had an open mind on this. I went into it with zero expectations,” Brown said. “He’s played football, this isn’t like rolling out there and playing football for the first time. He’s played football, it’s been since 2016 or 2017 the last time he played. He played as a junior in high school the last time he played.”
Brown likened him playing football to defending on the perimeter in basketball. The only difference is the ability to use your hands in football.
“When people started playing the pick and roll game, he had to guard the guy out on the perimeter, that’s not too much different than pass [protecting,” Brown said. “Obviously the biggest difference is we can use our hands in this game. [Offensive line] coach [Matt] Moore tells him, ‘hey, you’re not fouling out. There is no foul outs in this game.’ Just him getting used to punching and the importance of ball get-offs. What I do like about him is he’s extremely coachable and Huggins said he was and he definitely is.”
Brown said Bell has practiced with the team last week and will do again so this week.
“He has some knowledge of playing the game, but we went two weeks and just did fundamentals. This week, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, he’s practiced. We’re going to do the same next Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and give us some time to regroup and see if it’s something that we think can work or he thinks that he wants to make happen,” Brown said. “I just try to keep expectations in reason. It’s a really tough transition but he’s attacked it.”
This past Saturday the Mountaineers were in the stadium for practice and Brown said Bell participated in over 20 plays.
“I’m betting he probably went 25 plays live within 11-on-11 period and did some pass protection and some inside drills as well,” Brown said of Bell’s performance. “And he’s getting better. Like you can see considerable growth as well.”
Bell has two years of eligibility remaining for football and one for basketball. It is also worth noting, the Mountaineers now have three centers on the basketball roster not including Bell after they acquired Jesse Edwards in the transfer portal. Edwards joins James Okonkwo, Mohamed Wague, and Bell, who were on last year’s squad.
