2025 ATH CJ Bell Lands Dream Offer After Notre Dame Camp

By Christian McCollum

June 15, 2023

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When Al Golden was at St. Thomas More during last month’s Connecticut Showcase event, it was clear CJ Bell‍ earned the Notre Dame defensive coordinator’s attention.

Later on, Golden made it clear he wanted the 2025 athlete to camp in South Bend so the entire staff could evaluate him.

On Thursday, Bell did just that and left with a scholarship offer from the Irish in hand.

“It was great,” the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder told Irish Sports Daily afterward. “I loved it because that's my dream school, and me and my dad always watched them growing up. It was just like a blessing that I got to show my talents in front of them and earn the offer.

“I showed them that I can catch, that I can jump for the ball. I showed them I'm fast, that I have quick hips that I can get out of my breaks and stuff like that.”

Bell’s offer sheet also includes schools like Penn State, Rutgers, UConn, UMass, Bowling Green and Morgan State.

Bell was in South Bend for the Clemson game last fall and has his eyes set on another showcase game this coming fall.

“I would like to come back and visit,” he said. “I especially want to come back for the Ohio State game. That's one game I'm looking forward to come back to.”

Bell doesn’t have any other summer visits locked in yet, but said he anticipates taking gameday visits to regional schools like UConn and Rutgers this fall as well.

“But Notre Dame, I'm really excited for,” he added.

Still, Bell isn’t quite ready to declare the Irish his outright leader.

“I think it's too early to say that. I can't decide that yet. But they will definitely be in my top five.

“100 percent.”