WR Skyler Bell returning for 2025

[Palatine]

The drops are a focus issue not a skill issue. He is an elite receiver.

https://athlonsports.com/college/michigan-wolverines/michigan-hosts-phenomenal-uconn-receiver

 

[giddyup]

UM insider probably broke the law ( FERPA) disclosing that information and possibly committed libel if not true. Skylar just got his NIL lottery ticket.

Meant UM guy

 

[ktuck911]

I think Bell is even better than most people think. I've seen him make devestating cuts that get lost on a telecast. He's a star. His staying sends a great message but his play on the field is even better.

Preach brother! I think some of us on this board tend to see how top level college teams perform then compare what we have to those teams....which in actuality is unfair. This is arguably the first time (since Edsall left the 1st time) where we actually look like might be building something sustainable. I sure hope so anyways.

 

[UCTitleTown]

In fairness he ended up in the NFL, I don’t think they exactly hurt him there.

Practice squad and then cut....

 

[Chin Diesel]

The drops are a focus issue not a skill issue. He is an elite receiver.

https://athlonsports.com/college/michigan-wolverines/michigan-hosts-phenomenal-uconn-receiver

It's still a drop. And even you're not nuts enough to declare fixing focus is easier or more assured than fixing skill.

 

[Woof 101]

I thought that’s why gloves were worn, for rain. People here mentioned not wearing them as a possible reason for his drops.

Just FYI, got to try them on a couple of visits to Uconn spring games. Good article here on why so many can now make one handed catches. NFL yes but college trains the same. One player mentions training with the Juggs bare handed but always wearing them in a game. How sticky gloves have become NFL receivers' most trusted sidekicks

I said I'd eat crow if he came back and proved me wrong and saying we had no shot after the UM news came out. I'm loving it!!!!

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Just trying to help as you can imagine I've been there done that.
GO HUSKIES !!!

 

[JMick]

It's still a drop. And even you're not nuts enough to declare fixing focus is easier or more assured than fixing skill.

Tons of players fix drop issues. It's not an insurmountable obstacle

 

[storrsroars]

Tons of players fix drop issues. It's not an insurmountable obstacle

And sometimes they just reappear. Watched George Pickens drop two right in hands yesterday. Would've been big gains. Cincy WRs dropped nothing.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Tons of players fix drop issues. It's not an insurmountable obstacle

Not saying it's not fixable.

 

[Platt81]

Practice squad and then cut....

You basically said Michigan wasted him. I noted he played in the NFL (he was on active NFL roster with Chargers last year) and it’s not like just because you play at UM a team drafts you in the 5th round. Could he have had inflated numbers at UConn? Sure, but from his personal perspective he would have still had the same end game.

 

[RSTuthill]

I echo these sentiments. Once he declared, I thought he wouldn't return. I was wrong, for the time being, for which I say based on what Yates pulled. I'm hearing The Clash's sing "Should I Stay out Should I Go" playing in my head.

What @Jetskies wrote has been on my mind for a while: commitments now don't mean much to me if they can re-enter the portal come Spring. I'll be truly happy when I see him dressed in UConn Huskies gear in August... until then, it's like waiting for a doctor's phone call about a test result. I'm hoping for the best, and that next year he lights it up for us.

Very good points about what commitments mean. But you forgot one more defacto period. The remainder of the season after four games in.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Welcome Back Sir. I predict a huge offensive season for him next year.

 

[gars44]

That is really great news because Bell has a great skill set that you don’t often see. I think you can be a good one Skyler. Reminds me of Zay Flowers, and he’s done pretty good for himself.

 

[Patman]

It's still a drop. And even you're not nuts enough to declare fixing focus is easier or more assured than fixing skill.

How is catching passes not a skill?

 

[RioDog]

Glad Bell is back. Drops or no drops he is a real threat and stresses defenses.

Now the real question, since the table has clearly titled, is who can we pilfer from the mighty Wolverines?

 

[JohnFSilver]

Although this reads as a lot of cope and backtracking, I would hope that any player entering the portal that then withdraws, doesn't have university officials giving private info to so called sports reporters. I thought that academic info was private, and can only be released if the student signs off on it. So, either way, it's no bueno.

Lol. On background? Coaches will tell you everything. I have gotten the academic spiel 100+ times why a kid wasn't recruited, isn't coming after commitment, or even is off the team.

 

[ZooCougar]

Although this reads as a lot of cope and backtracking, I would hope that any player entering the portal that then withdraws, doesn't have university officials giving private info to so called sports reporters. I thought that academic info was private, and can only be released if the student signs off on it. So, either way, it's no bueno.

Don’t fall for it.

That EJ guy isn’t even credible to Michigan fans.

Bell was at Wisconsin and UConn. Two fine schools. Do you really think his credits wouldn’t be good at Michigan for a football player if they wanted him.

 

[ZooCougar]

It's still a drop. And even you're not nuts enough to declare fixing focus is easier or more assured than fixing skill.

Just be happy he game back. Good grief.

 

[Waquoit]

Bell was at Wisconsin and UConn. Two fine schools. Do you really think his credits wouldn’t be good at Michigan for a football player if they wanted him.

Seriously, someone repeated that line of crap to me on reddit. That almost makes me want to root for Ohio State.

 

[freescooter]

Don’t fall for it.

That EJ guy isn’t even credible to Michigan fans.

Bell was at Wisconsin and UConn. Two fine schools. Do you really think his credits wouldn’t be good at Michigan for a football player if they wanted him.

To borrow a phrase Mike Francesca, if the coaches want him bad enough you could get a plant into that school. He was talking about Florida but it applies to most places, even Michigan.

 

[Hoophound]

Bell decided to stay at UConn because we sweetened the pot and he’s happy here. That’s from someone that would know. That same person can’t (won’t) tell me if Bell plans on receiving passes from Evers, Welliver or someone else, but he’s confident he’ll be making a lot of catches.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Just be happy he game back. Good grief.

I'm happy he's back. I also want another WR on the team who is better than Bell.

 

[huskidork]

UConn dealt with a lot of drop issues from the WR core as a whole, Bell if he wants to reach the next level and elevate will definitely have to be better focused and catch the ball, there are times he'll make a crazy catch and then the next pass to him is simple, easy, and he drops it, what I'm more concerned with is Nick Evers, Fagnano improved greatly year 2 so maybe Evers with a full offseason with the team, hopefully a more healthy season he improves greatly especially as a passer.

 

[Hoophound]

I'm happy he's back. I also want another WR on the team who is better than Bell.

He can get better too. If he improves the drops and we get another guy as good as him, we’ll be balling out.

 

[Hoophound]

UConn dealt with a lot of drop issues from the WR core as a whole, Bell if he wants to reach the next level and elevate will definitely have to be better focused and catch the ball, there are times he'll make a crazy catch and then the next pass to him is simple, easy, and he drops it, what I'm more concerned with is Nick Evers, Fagnano improved greatly year 2 so maybe Evers with a full offseason with the team, hopefully a more healthy season he improves greatly especially as a passer.

I’d be more concerned with Welliver’s progress and who we can get in the portal. We’ll need a massive jump for Evers to be that guy. I don’t see it. I think Evers can be “pretty good” at some point, but I don’t want to risk Welliver transferring because we are over-invested in Evers.