WR Skyler Bell passed on chance to play at Michigan to return to UConn and finish what he started

[huskymedic]

-> “I went into the portal during the bowl game process seeing what schools were interested and seeing where my value was in the portal,” Bell said. “I ended up taking visits to a couple schools. It felt great, but I thought I had a better opportunity for myself, for my career and playing at the next level by staying here. “I wanted to finish what I started here. I started a good career here; I might as well finish it the right way.” <-

-> “I think last year I grew more in my contested catch ability. I always had the ability, but I just didn’t get the opportunities at Wisconsin to show that. Here when I did get the opportunities, I made the most of them.”…

…“It says a lot about our program, and it says even more about him and what motivates him,” Mora said. “He understands that he has a chance to be part of something special, kind of building a program back. The loyalty he has shown to the school and to his teammates speaks volumes, because he is a prominent player. <-

Nice shout-out to WR Coach Kashif Moore within the article.

 

[Jetskies]

beautiful. ty for sharing.
this is the kind of storyline i've been looking forward to.
only thing missing now is for him to go absolutely NUTS this year and get an insane highlight reel generate some UConn promo on ESPN during draft season, and hopefully even during the draft itself! wanna hear Mel Kiper talk about us!!!

 

[giddyup]

A successful athlete not looking for greener pastures and happy to stay put is so refreshing. Bell is going to light it up this year.

 

[UConnDan97]

A successful athlete not looking for greener pastures and happy to stay put is so refreshing. Bell is going to light it up this year.

A successful athlete coming to the realization that THIS IS the greener pasture...

 

[Ldandy]

Good for him. It would have been very easy, and honestly completely understandable, to take a nice payday to be another guy in the WR Room at a school like Michigan. Instead, he actually weighed his options and came to the conclusion that UConn helped develop him as a player, and still provided his best opportunity to showcase himself for the next level.

 

[Woof 101]

A successful athlete coming to the realization that THIS IS the greener pasture...

I hope who ever put up the money continues to do so. We so need it in these times. Greener pasture $$$$ is a good way to explain how we beat out Michigan to keep a player.

 

[pj]

A successful athlete coming to the realization that THIS IS the greener pasture...

Could he go 13-0 at Michigan? I don't think so.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[B1GEast]

He's gonna put up some Big numbers

 

[Waquoit]

I think Bell is the best FB player in UConn history.

 

[UCTitleTown]

For me it was Terry Caulley before his knee injury. I thought he would've been the best Husky pro. Donald Brown was no slouch either (all-time leading rusher).

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskiemaniac]

For me it was Terry Caulley before his knee injury. I thought he would've been the best Husky pro. Donald Brown was no slouch either (all-time leading rusher).

Dan O was pretty good too…

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Scoe]

He just got himself drafted in rds 2-4 of the draft yesterday, just my own assessment. So we throw to him to send it into OT but we can't throw to him to clinch the game. He deserved better then a stupid slow developing reverse play.

 

[UCan3]

He just got himself drafted in rds 2-4 of the draft yesterday, just my own assessment. So we throw to him to send it into OT but we can't throw to him to clinch the game. He deserved better then a stupid slow developing reverse play.

He also was hit illegally during and after the catch + still held onto the ball.

That was the best catch I’ve ever seen.

He will be playing Sundays next year.

 

[Nostical]

A couple of their boosters we met at dinner last night told me Syracuse also made a strong pitch to Bell . “He’s elite”

 

[ScottVib]

Makes sense, Brown took some time to chat with Bell and congratulate him on his performance post-game

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[LetsGoUC]

Skyler is a prime example of why bag chasing in the portal isn't always the best move. He stayed loyal to his school, is the #1 option where he gets to showcase his skills and put up big numbers and because of this now may be earning himself long term $$$ through the NFL.

 

[Jetskies]

Skyler is a prime example of why bag chasing in the portal isn't always the best move. He stayed loyal to his school, is the #1 option where he gets to showcase his skills and put up big numbers and because of this now may be earning himself long term $$$ through the NFL.

agreed.

it IS the best move if you're a kid chasing money (and not an education/career) who knows the likelihood of making more money long term in the NFL is very very low. Some kids are just good in college and deep down they probably know that. thus, get the bag now while someone, anyone, is willing to pay.

Skyler's decision indicates to me that he thinks he has an actual shot to make a team and STAY on a team and build some wealth. So the game plan is to just keep building awesome tape as the #1, knowing that he's probably the #3 or #4 at the next level. The tape is worth more than the gap in NIL income today. And that's ok.

Otherwise he would have left uconn in a heartbeat for more money NOW, since this was the only window to do so.
I sure hope he's right about himself.

 

[Nostical]

Notwithstanding all of the many factors that led to his remaining with the Huskies, Skyler’s decision speaks mostly to one important revelation. His confidence that Fagnano was getting better at delivering the ball! There’s no way Bell stays if he felt the QB couldn’t continue to showcase his receiving talents to the scouts. If Joe wasn’t granted this 7th year of eligibility —a running QB with limited passing skills like Evers-or a new untested starter would have driven Bell elsewhere.
.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Notwithstanding all of the many factors that led to his remaining with the Huskies, Skyler’s decision speaks mostly to one important revelation. His confidence that Fagnano was getting better at delivering the ball! There’s no way Bell stays if he felt the QB couldn’t continue to showcase his receiving talents to the scouts. If Joe wasn’t granted this 7th year of eligibility —a running QB with limited passing skills like Evers-or a new untested starter would have driven Bell elsewhere.
.

That seems like a risky way to decide things. Quarterbacks get injured.

I am sure Joe staying helped…but I would think comfort with coaches and scheme were a big part also.