University of North Carolina Athletics
GoHeels Exclusive: Bell Excited About Switch to Wide Receiver
April 6, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
When receivers coach Lonnie Galloway asked Corey Bell Jr. to run routes after North Carolina's second spring practice, the fifth-year cornerback initially thought he might play both offense and defense this fall.
But as he learned a few days later, the coaching staff had other plans.
Unbeknownst to Bell, Galloway had closely watched him throughout the team's "Fourth Quarter" conditioning program in February, especially during agility drills. What Galloway observed then led him to believe that Bell looked like a wide receiver. And the first three practices further confirmed that.
So, before Bell left Chapel Hill for spring break, Galloway called him into his office and proposed a switch to wide receiver, a position Bell hadn't played since middle school.
"He was like, 'You look like a receiver,'" Bell told reporters after UNC's 11th spring practice on Thursday. "And as he was saying that, I'm thinking, 'I've been playing corner, strictly corner, for seven years.' So he told me, 'Think about it.'"
As he did on his way home to Charlotte, Bell said he remained reluctant. He then received a call from Dre' Bly that changed his perspective.
Bly, the College Football Hall of Famer who Bell knew before he became UNC's cornerbacks coach in November, encouraged Bell to give receiver a try. Bell ultimately committed to the position change. And he's since made a smooth transition to the offensive side of the ball.
"It's what Coach (Mack) Brown and Galloway tell me," said Bell of what's allowed him to find success so quickly. "They say I'm more natural at it, and I agree with that. It's been easier. Running, catching, cutting, things like that, it's come easy to me. And then on top of that, I've got Coach Galloway coaching me and he's coached so many people."
He's also benefitted from his experience on defense.
During his college career, Bell has played in 25 games and made six starts. He might not know exactly what Carolina's defense is doing each play, as Brown joked about Tuesday, since he only spent three days practicing with the new staff. But his familiarity with defensive coverages has made him a natural route-runner.
On defense, Bell said he'd grown accustomed to being called "Grandpa" or "Uncle" by Trey Morrison, Bryson Richardson and Javon Terry, among other underclassmen. Although he's now the oldest member of the receiver room, those nicknames no longer apply.
"It's almost like I'm a freshman because I just got here," Bell said. "I've been on offense for two weeks, so it feels like I'm the new guy. I don't feel like an old guy anymore. It's fun, though. I don't want to say I feel like a freshman, but I feel young. It's definitely different.
"Once I learn the playbook and things like that, I think then it'll be more that I'm not the rookie or the young guy. But right now, since I'm learning, I feel like a young guy."
That learning process will continue after the Tar Heels conclude spring practice with the spring game on April 13. Yet, even though he might not currently possess as much knowledge about his position as his fellow receivers, he's earned praise all spring.
"He's fast," Michael Carter said. "He's quick and can catch. He's explosive with the ball. He plays hard without the ball. Everybody knew he was a good athlete; he's got a 41-inch vertical or something like that. So having him on offense is awesome."
"I like Corey on offense," Dominique Ross echoed. "He's got moves in the open field. I've seen his highlight tape from high school, so I knew what type of player he was. But for him to go out there and I see him shaking people? Yeah, I like Corey."
Everyone else inside the Kenan Football Center seems to agree. It's hard not to when Bell's consistently making plays at receiver.
But how he's fully embraced his new position has been just as, if not more, impressive.
"He's balling," Beau Corrales said. "That's what you like to see – someone coming in and just making an impact right away. Everybody is excited for him, everybody is hyping him up. It's fun to see that kind of change."
