A two-way standout for Butler High School’s (Matthews, N.C.) varsity football team, Hawatha Bell ‘s future on the college level lies at the linebacker position. The 6-1, 230-pound Bell possesses excellent athleticism and speed, as he claims to run a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. Division 1A college coaches have noticed, as nine Division 1A programs have offered the talented junior.

This past season, Bell tallied around 120 tackles including 12 tackles-for-loss and three sacks.

“I play outside linebacker,” said Bell, who plays in a 4-3 defensive set at Butler. “What I do very well is blitz from the outside and catch people down from behind. Some people question my height, but my speed makes up for my height. My tackling makes up for it, too. I also play running back. When I run the ball, I go head on. I go straight at you.”

Butler, which featured top senior talents such as DB Spencer Adams (Clemson) and WR Jarrett Boykin (Virginia Tech) last season, compiled a 10-3 record in 2007. Bell, a quiet leader who “let’s my game do all the talking,” is one of the top returnees for next season.

...