As Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner dropped on a 3rd-and-6 Saturday night from inside his own 10-yard line, he looked to his left and threw a pass intended for wide receiver K.J. Maye, who was running a short crossing route near the first-down marker.
Ohio State safety Vonn Bell was in man coverage on the play and, because the Gophers had run a similar route concept earlier in the game, the Buckeyes’ All-American candidate jumped the route and intercepted Leidner’s pass.
Bell wasn’t done, though. After his pick, the junior safety made a juke move on Minnesota wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky, then outran the rest of the Gophers’ offense before he dove into the end zone for a touchdown to open the scoring for third-ranked Ohio State.
The pick-six by Bell brought life to the Ohio Stadium crowd that had been somewhat quiet through the first half of Saturday’s game. That’s something the talented junior is used to doing, though. Bell is one of the Buckeyes’ biggest defensive playmakers.
“It just brings me back to my high school days, I get to touch the paint a little bit more,” Bell said of the play Monday. “It’s being out there and making all those plays for Buckeye Nation, this team, it’s just an honor.”
Bell has great ball skills and is one of college football’s top safeties. He’s tied for the team lead with a pair of interceptions and leads Ohio State with eight pass break-ups.
He has also scored a pair of defensive touchdowns on the year after his score Saturday night. Bell not only forces turnovers, he turns them into points. With the ball in his hands, he’s a natural.
Bell confirmed it’s more of a natural ability, taking turnovers and turning them into points, but also added he works on such things in practice as much as he can.
“It’s just all natural, just being a playmaker,” he said. “If I get interceptions in practice I still work on my moves then. I run all the way down to the end zone and Coach Meyer will get mad at me, tell me to come back.
Bell’s rare playmaking ability begs a question that might sound a little crazy, but still had to be asked: Would Ohio State ever consider using him on offense?
“I tell Coach [Zach] Smith all the time, ‘Put me in there, I’ll run a route for you,’” Bell said, flashing his trademark smile.
Smith, Ohio State’s wide receivers coach, didn’t seem too keen on the idea.
“I’m volunteering my position as position coach if Vonn Bell comes and sits in my room,” Smith joked. “Just dealing with him for 20 minutes a day when we go against the defense is plenty. I’m not dealing with him for a whole day. No chance.”
Having guys play both ways isn’t something that happens a lot in college football, but it’s not totally uncommon, either. Michigan using its best player, Jabrill Peppers, on both offense and defense right now and it has been highly effective. Peppers, like Bell, is a safety.
When Bell was asked if he was a little envious of Peppers getting the chance to play offense, he, again, cracked a smile.
“No, I’m not. My time is coming,” he said. “I’m not worried about it, my time is coming. I’ll just be patient and stay humble.”
It’s not likely to happen; the Buckeyes have plenty of weapons on offense despite having quite a few injuries at wide receiver. The idea, however, was still fun to think about.
Bell being one of Ohio State’s best playmakers, though, is not something that’s up for debate. Anyone who watches the Buckeyes play can see that.
Well, almost everyone, anyway.
“Is he?” Smith asked. “When O-linemen are trying to tackle him, he can really get something done.”
