The first time safety Jered Bell strapped on his Colorado helmet and ran down the hill from Folsom Field to practice as a true freshman back in 2010, the Buffs were still in the Big 12 Conference.
It was Bell’s sixth first day Wednesday as CU opened training camp, and Bell more than any other person on the field has reason to hate camp.
Two major injuries robbed Bell, a product of Ontario, Calif., of two complete seasons earlier in his career, and the NCAA awarded him a sixth season of eligibility in the spring because of those lost seasons. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during training camp in 2011 when he was on track to start as a cornerback. Last year he suffered a torn ACL in his other knee during fall camp but he is fully recovered and ready to make his mark once again.
“I know the ropes,” he said after his first full practice since last summer. “So I know what it’s going to take and the work ethic it’s going to take to get through fall camp. I’m looking forward to it and I’m willing to do the work.”
Bell was one of the most valuable players on the CU defense in 2013 when he was healthy. He finished the season fourth on the team in total tackles. He also returned an interception and fumble for touchdowns in what was his junior season.
He believes he’s capable of reaching that level of play and even better this year. Having gone through the experience of suffering a knee injury, recovering and coming back to play once before has him better prepared for the second time around. He says he knows what to expect and what he is capable of this time and that will help him.
Bell returns to a competitive situation for playing time in the secondary. He is listed at free safety, where he will have to beat out sophomore Evan White, who played well as a freshman last season, and junior college transfer Afolabi Laguda, who didn’t come to Boulder to sit on the bench.
But Bell didn’t come back for a sixth season to watch from the sidelines. It should be one of the best battles of training camp.
“I have to start this year,” Bell said. “If I don’t, that’s a failure in my eyes. That’s really the ultimate goal for me in terms of the first goal to accomplish.”
Coach Mike MacIntyre said it was good to have Bell back on the field fully cleared and ready to go. He said the plan is to monitor how Bell’s knees react to the pounding of camp and possibly hold him out at times.
“He’s going every practice,” MacIntyre said. “When we get to two-a-days, we’ll ask him and see how his knee is doing. Right now it looks fine. I’ll talk with the trainer every day. They’ll be some two-a-days he probably won’t go both, but right now he is completely cleared and ready to roll, but we’ll monitor him and make sure everything is good.”
White said Bell is the kind of player who doesn’t mind helping younger teammates with tips and advice and it is appreciated. White aims to make it tough for Bell to move back into his old starting role. Comparing himself on the first day of camp a year ago as a freshman and the first day of camp Wednesday kicking off his sophomore year, White said the difference is night and day. He has come a long way and is much more confident from the start.
Competing for playing time with an experienced veteran like Bell is likely to benefit White in the long run no matter who coaches choose to start.
“It’s tough,” White said. “I’ve always got to be on point. I’ve always got to know what I’m doing and be hustling to the ball every play and putting in 100 percent effort.
“It definitely helps me. It pushes me to be the best that I can be, being a great player and balling out every play that I can.”
Bell said helping White in whatever way he can is what is best for the team and it’s also in his nature. He’s not afraid he could be helping a teammate take away his playing time.
“When you make somebody else better, you’re also making yourself better because the competition level rises,” Bell said. “So I have no problem helping out whoever needs the help because it’s only going to push me to work even that much harder to beat them out again. I like it. It’s healthy competition.”
Kyle Ringo: ringok@dailycamera.com, on Twitter: @kyleringo
