Junction City's Bell comfortable at defensive end for Hogs.
FAYETTEVILLE - Damage with more moves than a moving van takes its toll even on a big Bell.
But as a fifth-year senior, for the first time consecutively starting a Razorbacks season at the same position with the same coordinator and same position coach rings true to Jamario Bell.
Recruited out of Junction City in 2015 by Arkansas’ former Bret Bielema regime, Bell, 6-5, 265, redshirted in 2015 tried first at defensive end, then at tight end.
Bell couldn’t count 2016 as a redshirt year. Too bad because he couldn’t figure in a game moving on the scout team at tight end to outside linebacker.
Special teams amounted to Bell’s 2017 position.
He broke his foot during the August preseason. The broken foot didn’t heal enough for Bell to play until he was tossed into the final November games on special teams against Mississippi State and Missouri.
But last year, even with the Hogs wallowing 2-10, Bell rang true, situated strictly at backup defensive end for new Coach Chad Morris, new defensive coordinator John Chavis and new defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell.
Bell chimed in 10 of the 12 games, made 18 tackles,10 unassisted including one for a 5-yard loss, and forced a fumble.
Now in a rotation with returning senior junior college transfers Dorian Gerald and Gabe Richardson and promising true freshmen Mataio Soli, Zach Williams Eric Gregory and Collin Clay so impressing Chavis he could move 2018 defensive end/defensive tackle McTelvin “Sosa” Agim strictly to D-end, Caldwell counts plenty on Bell.
The constant position switches and injuries aren’t Caldwell’s history with Jamario Bell after a season sandwiched by two springs.
Caldwell does see, though, the combined athleticism and size that had so many believing their position might be the one for him.
“Jamario is one of the biggest, most athletic guys that we have,” Caldwell said. “And we have got to get him to where he can play the way we need him to do more than compete but win in this conference.”
Caldwell said he saw signs as Bell progressed during last fall learning a new defense under new coaches then especially blossoming during spring drills.
“Jamario had a really good spring,” Caldwell said. “I think he has really come on a lot. He’s starting to play with more confidence and I’m gaining more confidence in him. So that makes it better for both of us.”
Bell said it definitely feels better this second time around finally in one place.
“The difference is with my coach and position coach I don’t have to change different verbiage and all that stuff,” Bell said. “It’s the same. I think this is my best spot.”
Presumably it stays that way though Bell said he would play anywhere they put him.
“Anything the coaches ask me to do, I’m going to do to the best of my ability to help the team,” Bell said. “So whatever I have to do, I’m going to do it.”
He sure prefers D-end, though, especially off his effort to play it.
“I just feel like over the