re: 2013 Alabama Football Recruiting Thread - DH Decommited from UGA

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With the spring evaluation period underway from college football assistant coaches, the University of Alabama staff hit the road hard last week.

One of the first stop's was to Ridgeland High School (Rossville, Ga.) to check in with one of the nation's top safeties, Vonn Bell. Bell is a top target for the Crimson Tide in every sense. He is a great player, student and person.

Alabama assistant coach, Lance Thompson, visited Ridgeland Tuesday to show the four-star recruit how much the Crimson Tide wants him.

"Coach Thompson stopped by the school to continue to show Vonn he's their guy," Ridgeland coach Mark Marakis told TideSports.com "His mother works at the school so Coach Thompson spent some time with her. They are a great family, great character people on top of being a very good football player. The visit was well received.

"I think Alabama is in that top echelon on his list. After spring football he's going to narrow the list of teams that has offered him down to five or six. I think Alabama will be in that list. Like I've said, they've done a great job at Alabama -- recruitng, coaching, facilities, winning like they are. Coach (Nick) Saban has an organized plan that meets kids needs. It's hard not to be impressed.

"He's enjoyed most of the SEC schools he's visited. He's had nice trips to Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, too. It's going to be hard decision. The academic side is going to be very important. With his mom being a teacher and him being a good student, academics are very important for him."

Bell isn't in a rush to make his commitment. Instead, he wants to be deliberate and methodical, waiting to make his decision when the time is right.

"We haven't narrowed down the search yet, just putting together the pros and cons," Bell said. "I'm going to think about it real hard after my spring practice and then focus on it then."

Bell, a four-star prospect, visited Texas' spring game in his recent tour of visits. He said he enjoyed the atmosphere in Austin and how important football is to that community.

"It was a nice experience," Bell said. "The fans came out and were supportive in every way."

He did, however, make stops in Arkansas, Notre Dame and Oklahoma State for spring practice, but all these came after his visit to Alabama's first Junior Day in February.

Bell said he enjoyed meeting the coaches and hanging out with the players, but nothing stood out to him like his one-on-one conversation with Alabama coach Nick Saban.

"To him, it's more than just football," Bell said. "It's more about becoming a man and doing your academics and everything and what's going to come in life after football."

He said it was a real nice experience sitting down with Saban and he left impressed. He wasn't alone in those thoughts. His mother left Tuscaloosa with an appreciation of what Saban does at Alabama as well.

"She liked him because he's about business," Bell said. "He knows how to get the job done and makes sure everyone is doing right."

Bell may be unsure about what exactly the future holds for him as he has a busy schedule. He knows what he's doing next, but he's just playing it close to the vest. He wouldn't say what his next moves are but said a return to Tuscaloosa is in the works.

"I'm going to try to visit them whenever I do," Bell said. "I'm going to get around there again, I'm just not going to say when."

Marakis said whatever school gets Bell is getting an excellent defender.

"He is the best tackler I've had as a secondary player. We use him to walk him down in the box in heavy run support. That's such a vital skill set. He had five interceptions, so he's a great cover guy too. Combined that makes him a unique animal."

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