When Karsen Bell returns to Miramar’s New Renaissance Middle School for the fall semester, he will have a great story to tell about his summer vacation.
The seventh-grade defensive lineman received a scholarship offer from Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes in July, becoming one of the rare middle schoolers to earn the attention of college programs.
“We were super excited about it,” Bell’s mother, Jeronda Dortch, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “… It was definitely in his top five, so it made it even more special.”
Bell learned that he received the scholarship offer through one of his coaches. He said that although he will not be signing his letter of intent until 2029, the Hurricanes are one of the college teams he is most interested in, along with Michigan, Oregon, Georgia and Florida State.
“I was excited,” Bell said.
I’m very blessed to receive my 1st College Football offer from @coach_cristobal and @CanesFootball. 📗_📙🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾‼️
— Karsen Bell (@k_bellll3) July 5, 2023
Bell visited Miami for their recruiting event at the end of July and enjoyed the trip. He said he was planning to go to the Hurricanes’ season opener against Miami (Ohio), as well.
Bell, who plays for the Miami Gardens Ravens 12-and-under youth team, is already 6-1, towering over other players his age.
“He’s taller than I am,” Ravens coach Rod Mack said, “and I played linebacker at Miami.”
Mack said he was surprised that UM offered Bell so early, but Bell is not the first young prospect to make a name for himself with the Ravens. Current Chaminade-Madonna running back Davion Gause received an offer from the Hurricanes as a seventh-grader while playing for the Ravens.
Other top college prospects like Hurricanes commits Joshisa Trader and Ryan Mack and Ohio State commit Jeremiah Smith played for the team and received offers in eighth grade, the elder Mack said.
“Hopefully, he can follow in the footsteps of the other kids who came through our program who had this distinction,” Mack said.
Bell described himself as a “very kind person,” and Mack agreed.
“He’s a really, really good kid,” Mack said. “A quiet-spoken kid. He’s more of a gentle giant.”
Mack, whose son Ryan is committed to the Hurricanes, said the Ravens’ young defensive lineman has a lot of potential, which the Hurricanes spotted early.
“He’s big for his age, he can run, he’s strong,” Mack said. “Very strong. Nice size and fast. … Hopefully, he continues to work hard and develop into somebody you watch on television one day.”
