A week before the high school season kicks off, Hough High’s Ayden Bell announced his college football plans.
The senior linebacker from Cornelius has pledged for Davidson, an FCS program located three miles up the road from the Hough campus.
Bell (6-0, 205) is coming off a second-team all-conference season for the Huskies, which finished 11-2 and won the Queen City 3A/4A. Playing middle linebacker, he recorded 56 tackles, averaging 5.0 stops per game. He added three sacks, including one for an 18-yard loss in a win over Chambers last September.
Bell had a busy spring and summer on the camp and junior-day circuit. He attended camps and events at Elon, Duke, Gardner-Webb, Louisville, Mercer and Kennesaw State in May, June and July.
Davidson was the first Division I school to offer Bell, he said.
Had an amazing time @DavidsonFB for Jr day. The new facilities & stadium are 💥!! Thank you @Scott_AbellFB @coachjberlin for talking with me & showing me everything! Looking foward to coming back soon. @DeShawnBaker6 @SC_DBGROUP @HoughFB pic.twitter.com/qOw2ETdg7H
— Ayden Bell (@AydenBell18) March 31, 2024
Bell and the Hough Huskies will open the season next Friday, Aug. 23 against South Carolina power Northwestern from Rock Hill. Hough is ranked No. 12 in HighSchoolOT’s preseason statewide rankings and No. 4 in HighSchoolOT’s 704 area code rankings. Northwestern quarterback Finley Polk recently committed to Gardner-Webb.
Hough has multiple players from its Class of 2025 committed to college programs already: cornerback RJ Rainer to Charlotte; wide receivers Sean Brady and Ashawd Wynn to Gardner-Webb; defensive back Karmel Quick to Lenoir-Rhyne; quarterback Trey Blakeney and defensive backs Morgan Linton and Syir Sutton to Austin Peay; and Kiande Marsh to South Carolina State.
- READ MORE: North Carolina Class of 2025 prospects committed to in-state programs
- READ MORE: North Carolina Class of 2025 prospects committed to out-of-state programs
