SCHOOL: Gateway

POSITION: RB-LB

HEIGHT: 6-1

WEIGHT: 225

THE SKINNY: Coach Terry Smith calls him the "best football player to come from Gateway ever." Some scouting services rank Bell among the top linebackers in the country. As a junior, had 131 tackles, including 25 for losses. Also had 11 sacks. Will add halfback to his chores this season after playing tight end last year.

COLLEGE TALK: Had more than 30 scholarship offers from schools across the country, but made verbal commitment to Ohio State in April.

YOU'RE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS THE NO. 1 PLAYER IN THE WPIAL. DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE UP TO THAT? I just have to play to my potential and show everybody how better I am this year.

HOW ARE YOU BETTER? Just in my cutting ability and not running so high. Our coaches have taught me to run lower. And I think I'm reading things better on defense and getting to the ball quicker.

CAN YOU NAME A FEMALE OLYMPIAN ON THIS YEAR'S U.S. TEAM? What was the name of the one who got caught using steroids? Marion Jones. I know she's not on it this year but that's the only one I know.

HOW ABOUT NAMING A MALE? Nope.

WILL YOU WATCH THE OLYMPICS AT ALL? Probably just the basketball.

COULD THIS GATEWAY TEAM BE BETTER THAN THE ONE THAT LOST IN THE WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR? I can't answer that yet. It's too hard to say.

IS THERE PRESSURE TO WIN IT ALL THIS YEAR? Not at all. We have a lot of our team back, but we just have to be prepared every game.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING YOU DID THIS SUMMER? Went to Oregon for a Nike camp.