Brian Hartline continues to add talent to Ohio State's wide receiver room for the class of 2025.
Four-star California prospect Phillip Bell committed to Ohio State on Saturday, picking the Buckeyes over now Big Ten rival USC on the same day as the Buckeyes' 2024 season opener.
The Bell File
- Class: 2025
- Size: 6-2/195
- Pos: Wide Receiver
- School: Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #184 (#19 WR)
Hartline offered Bell in March 2023, and Bell instantly formed a close relationship with Ohio State's co-offensive coordinator. He took a visit to Ohio State last fall for the Michigan State game and started to envision what life could be like as a part of the Buckeyes.
“My Ohio State visit was amazing," Bell told Eleven Warriors last November. "The game atmosphere was great. I loved the environment and how the fans are really engaged with everything. The team played great. The offense had an incredible first half and showed what they can do over these next few weeks. The coaches let me know that I’m a priority and that they really want me there. Coach Hartline talked a lot about being different, and I know that he can develop me into the best me.”
Bell returned to campus on June 14 for his official visit and was impressed by the developmental plan Ohio State had laid out for him. USC made a heavy push to try to keep Bell home, but the Buckeyes' wide receiver developmental track record and ability to compete for national championships won out in the end.
With Bell in the fold, Ohio State now has 26 commits and four wide receiver commitments in the 2025 class. Other commits include Quincy Porter, Bodpegn Miller and De'zie Jones. Hartline is building one of the taller wide receiver classes in the country, as Porter, Miller and Bell are all at least 6-foot-2. Bell's addition bolsters Ohio State's already ranked No. 1 recruiting class for the 2025 cycle per 247Sports.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB | DEVIN SANCHEZ | ★★★★★ | #5 NATL | #1 CB | 6-2 | 170 | North Shore (Houston, Texas) |
| QB | TAVIEN ST. CLAIR | ★★★★★ | #6 NATL | #2 QB | 6-4 | 210 | Bellefontaine (Bellefontaine, Ohio) |
| CB | NA'EEM OFFORD | ★★★★★ | #9 NATL | #3 CB | 6-1 | 185 | Parker (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| LB | RILEY PETTIJOHN | ★★★★★ | #28 NATL | #3 LB | 6-1 | 215 | McKinney (McKinney, Texas) |
| S | FAHEEM DELANE | ★★★★ | #36 NATL | #2 S | 6-2 | 195 | Good Counsel (Olney, Maryland) |
| WR | QUINCY PORTER | ★★★★ | #49 NATL | #8 WR | 6-3 | 190 | Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey) |
| OT | CARTER LOWE | ★★★★ | #50 NATL | #6 OT | 6-5 | 290 | Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio) |
| LB | TARVOS ALFORD | ★★★★ | #55 NATL | #5 LB | 6-2 | 210 | Vero Beach (Vero Beach, Florida) |
| DE | ZAHIR MATHIS | ★★★★ | #64 NATL | #6 Edge | 6-6 | 225 | Imhotep Institute (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| RB | BO JACKSON | ★★★★ | #86 NATL | #5 RB | 6-0 | 205 | Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| DE | ZION GRADY | ★★★★ | #89 NATL | #9 Edge | 6-4 | 235 | Enterprise (Enterprise, Alabama) |
| DE | LONDON MERRITT | ★★★★ | #112 NATL | #14 DL | 6-2 | 250 | IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) |
| TE | NATE ROBERTS | ★★★★ | #144 NATL | #7 TE | 6-4 | 235 | Washington (Washington, Oklahoma) |
| WR | PHILLIP BELL | ★★★★ | #184 NATL | #19 WR | 6-2 | 195 | Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California) |
| DT | MAXWELL ROY | ★★★★ | #240 NATL | #28 DL | 6-3 | 270 | St. Joseph's Prep School (Philadelphia, PA) |
| DT | JARQUEZ CARTER | ★★★★ | #273 NATL | #30 DL | 6-2 | 284 | Newberry (Newberry, Florida) |
| WR | DE'ZIE JONES | ★★★★ | #290 NATL | #40 WR | 6-0 | 180 | DePaul Catholic (Wayne, New Jersey) |
| S | DESHAWN STEWART | ★★★★ | #292 NATL | #26 S | 6-2 | 185 | DePaul Catholic (Wayne, New Jersey) |
| DT | TRAJEN ODOM | ★★★★ | #298 NATL | #35 DL | 6-4 | 285 | Weddington (Matthews, North Carolina) |
| TE | BRODY LENNON | ★★★★ | #317 NATL | #17 TE | 6-4 | 220 | Gates Mills (Gates Mills, OH) |
| S | CODY HADDAD | ★★★★ | #397 NATL | #21 ATH | 6-1 | 175 | St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| OL | JAYVON MCFADDEN | ★★★★ | #407 NATL | #25 IOL | 6-5 | 300 | Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, MD) |
| OL | JAKE COOK | ★★★ | #428 NATL | #26 IOL | 6-5 | 295 | Westerville North (Westerville, OH) |
| LB | ELI LEE | ★★★★ | #459 NATL | #44 LB | 6-3 | 230 | Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) |
| WR | BODPEGN MILLER | ★★★ | #514 NATL | #79 WR | 6-4 | 180 | Ontario (Mansfield, OH) |
| RB | ISAIAH WEST | ★★★ | #528 NATL | #41 RB | 5-11 | 208 | St. Joseph's Prep School (Philadelphia, PA) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports Composite | |||||
Bell profiles as another standout outside wide receiver for Buckeyes
According to the 247Sports composite, Bell is considered the No. 152 prospect and the No. 16 wide receiver in the 2025 class.
In his junior season at Mission Viejo, Bell recorded 56 catches for 644 yards and seven touchdowns. As a sophomore, he hauled in 73 passes for 818 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Bell's best fit is as an outside receiver given his height and that he's often displayed consistent hands, ball skill and body control on the sidelines. He's won numerous jump ball battles and isn't afraid to use his size to his advantage against smaller cornerbacks. Bell is an adept route runner who can change directions quickly and isn't afraid of contact, often following through on a catch even if he anticipates taking a lick from a defensive back. His size also makes him a dangerous red zone target.
With how stacked Ohio State's wide receiver room is, it may take at least a season before he takes meaningful snaps for Ohio State, but his profile is such that he could be a dangerous weapon for the Buckeyes.
