Michigan receiver Ronnie Bell updates progress: 'Ready to dominate'
Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh had great news about standout receiver Ronnie Bell heading into the season — specifically, that the fifth-year senior was back and better than ever. He was fully recovered from a knee injury suffered in last year’s opener with Western Michigan, setting personal bests in the 40, cone drills and more, and anxious to return.
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Bell confirmed all of that and more on the recent In the Trenches podcast with former Michigan All-American Jon Jansen.
“Absolutely. I feel really good,” the Michigan receiver said. “I feel like cutting wise, that confidence has already been built up, just because I’ve been working with … our trainers, just getting ready. I’m trying to get underneath myself as I’m running and cutting. Running a dig as hard as I can is one of the biggest things in my head. Being able to do that was like a big, big step in the confidence.
“But I feel like I’m 100 percent. Definitely, taking a hit will always help. Getting smacked one time will help you rock you right.”
When he wasn’t in the Michigan rehab room last year, Bell was helping teach the young players and often in former offensive coordinator Josh Gattis’ office. He’d get done with class and rehab and join his coach to go over plays and game plans.
It was hard watching, however, especially after his success in the opener. He seemed primed for a breakout season in the first game, with a huge, 76-yard touchdown grab and nice punt return in a Michigan win over Western Michigan. He went down on the latter, a memory that sticks with him.
“Probably the first thing would have been just like when it happened, me not being able to walk off the field. That is something that just bothered me the most,” he said. “It kept me up at night thinking about not being able to do that. And mentally, how we talked about confidence … being able to gain and gather that confidence all back up throughout these months. That was probably the hardest challenge, just those confidence walls that were getting in the way.
“I feel like it’s just been a lot of work. It’s a kind of feeling like you were taken out of position, and now you’ve got to build yourself back up. I feel like that’s the mindset I’ve been having and doing for the last year now. Just building myself back to where I need to be.”
But he remained positive, realizing immediately he’d be “ready to rock” by summer and able to participate in Michigan fall camp from day one — today, coincidentally. His goal is to “dominate” this year, he said laughing, adding he could “only imagine” how it will be to be back on the field.
“I’ve sat up and dreamed about it for a while now,” he said.
Through it all, too, he became even more entrenched in the Michigan culture and what it really means.
“I really feel like it’s just grown my love for the University of Michigan, for real,” he said. “Because I didn’t really know much about Michigan when I first got here. I was learning, especially in these last couple years.
“I genuinely really do love this university.”
The feeling among those at the school and the Michigan fans — a group that can’t wait to see him play again this fall — is mutual.
