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Gateway's Bell commits to Ohio State

By Kevin Gorman, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Dorian Bell fell for Ohio State the first time he visited, when he was a wide-eyed sophomore.

When the Gateway All-American linebacker visited for the Scarlet-Gray Game this past weekend, he was sold.

Once Bell saw Ohio Stadium for the first time, it didn't take long for him to make a verbal commitment. He chose Ohio State on Monday, picking the Buckeyes over Florida, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina and Penn State.

"When I got there and saw the stadium," Bell said, "I was just like, 'Wow!' "

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Bell is regarded as the top prospect in the WPIAL from the Class of 2009 and one of the best linebacker prospects in the country, according to several scouting services. Scout.com ranks him as the No. 13 player nationally, and Rivals.com has him at No. 22.

Bell has accepted an offer to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl next January, following in the footsteps of former Gateway stars Justin King and Shayne Hale.

Although Bell gives Ohio State the top WPIAL prospect for the second consecutive year -- Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor picked the Buckeyes on March 31 -- Gateway players rarely, if ever, end up in Columbus, Ohio.

"I don't know if there's ever been one," said Gateway coach Terry Smith, who also played for the Gators. "He's the first, to my knowledge. It would be nice (to start a pipeline to Ohio State). If you have kids who can get that opportunity, it's a nice choice."

Bell recorded 131 tackles, including 25 for losses, and 11 sacks as a junior in helping Gateway reach the WPIAL Class AAAA final. He had 96 tackles and five sacks as a sophomore.

He's projected to play strong-side linebacker.

"I think Dorian is the kind of kid who could play every position on the football field except the line," Smith said. "He's a guy that can go from point A to point B to point C faster than anyone and wreck it at the end. He's very physical.

"He's the best athlete I've ever coached. And he loves the game."

Bell also loves Ohio State, assuring reporters that he has no plans to change his mind. Not that there was any indication of where he was going after he arrived for an impromptu news conference dressed in an Ohio State hat and T-shirt.

"I felt like I never left home," Bell said of his visit this past weekend. "It was just great there -- the fans, the coaches, everything. It was just a wonderful time."


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