It has been quite a journey for Michigan football wide receiver Ronnie Bell.
Once a three-star recruit who intended to play basketball at a small college in Missouri, he chose to focus on football and went to the one place that believed in him: Michigan. He saw the field early and often, despite being the second-lowest rated commit in 2018, in front only of kicker Jake Moody in the rankings. He was one of three true freshmen (along with Moody and future No. 2 pick Aidan Hutchinson) to burn his redshirt that year.
Then 2019 came and Bell became a household name. Despite Michigan having the talented trio of former five-star Donovan Peoples-Jones and four-stars Tarik Black and Nico Collins, Bell led the team in receiving yards, with 48 catches for 758 yards. He led the team again in 2020, but tore his ACL in Week 1 of the 2021 season, prompting him to return for a fifth-year. A two-year team captain, Bell came back with a vengeance, leading the team again with 899 yards on 62 catches.
On Saturday, he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft with the 253rd pick. He was the second Wolverine picked in this draft by San Francisco. Kicker Jake Moody is also heading to the Bay Area. Ambry Thomas was a third-round pick of the 49ers in 2020.
Though one Bell departs, another is expected to take his place. His brother, Kendrick, will be a freshman quarterback for the Wolverines this season.
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