On potential Michigan football rising stars … and will Kendrick Bell be better than his brother?

It’s no surprise Michigan signee Kendrick Bell became a U-M fan because of his older brother, Ronnie. His recruitment even followed a similar path, with the two-sport star emerging late as a high-level football recruit. 

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In fact, it was an almost identical recruitment, with one exception — Ronnie played receiver, while his brother played quarterback at Kansas City (Mo.) Park Hill. This season, when his brother started to put up insane numbers, Michigan captain Ronnie took his highlights to Jim Harbaugh.

It wasn’t the first time, but this time it really got the Michigan coach’s attention. 

“He became even stronger, more athletic, more comfortable. And oh my gosh, he must have scored like 20 touchdowns in the first four games, something crazy,” Bell recalled of his brother. “So, then I showed coach Harbaugh again. It was like the same feeling — am I crazy, or is he really good? 

“Coach Harbaugh loved him, clearly. It was crazy how that all played out.”

His brother will now follow in his footsteps. He’ll start out at quarterback, but he’s capable of playing a number of positions, an outstanding athlete. 

Watching him grow has been just as fun as playing out his own career, Ronnie Bell said.

“I’m so proud of hm, for sure. So prideful in what he’s become,” he said. “It’s been really cool to see how much he’s grown in the last year with how serious he is, because he was kind of in the same situation as me … football, basketball — football, basketball. He’d teeter totter back and forth. 

“Whenever he did that decision … it was, ‘I really want to play football,’ and the way he has attacked that. He went about his business and really just dedicated himself. He was fully committed to being a college quarterback. I think it’s been like the most special thing about him, the way he was able to do that.”

Like his brother, who turned down basketball scholarships to play football at Michigan, he gave up a sport he loved to concentrate on one. 

“Really, this summer was like the only time he didn’t play AAU basketball. He really was just only focused on football or the first time in his whole life,” Bell recalled. “How much he grew from last season to this season was a true testament to how much he’s dedicated to being a quarterback.”

He “definitely” has the potential to be better than his brother, Ronnie insisted. He probably won’t wear his brother’s number — he’ll blaze his own trail — but he could well be a significant, under-the-radar contributor just like No. 8. 

Wherever Ronnie Bell is next year, he’ll be watching intently. 

Michigan freshmen receivers continue to impress

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh called his trio of freshman receivers the “freak show” last year when they arrived. While they’ve had to wait their turn, they’ve all continued to impress in practice, Bell said. 

“Tyler Morris, Amorion Walker, Darrius Clemons have taken great steps,” Bell said. “Those are guys that I’m really excited to see in the future.”

One in particular, he added. 

“More specifically, Amorion. He’s kind of like an alien,” Bell said with a laugh. “I’m excited to see what he can become at the University of Michigan. He’s just a lot more athletic than any guy in the room.”

Backup quarterback Davis Warren has all the tools

Finally, we asked Michigan sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy about his backup, Davis Warren, and what he thought. He served up some high praise for the under-recruited QB. 

“He’s extremely talented. The ceiling for him …. I can’t even tell you,” he said. “He’s a super, super bright kid. I always talk about adversity JD [Johnson] went through — he went through the same thing with his whole journey through cancer and all that. Another inspiration I get to look at in my room every single day.”

He has a bright future when his day comes, McCarthy added. 

“He holds himself to a high standard. He’s professional every single day,” he said. “It’s awesome to be able to go to war with that guy and go to work on a day to day basis.”