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If '8 Mile' were a football story, Jimmy Bell Jr. would be B-Rabbit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joe Bombo | Last updated May 9, 2025 9:05 AM ET

At 6-foot-10 an 330 pounds, Jimmy Bell Jr. looked every bit the part of a dominant college basketball forward. But now? He’s an offensive tackle—signing with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent and possibly the most fascinating project in the 2025 NFL Draft this offseason.

From the Hardwood to the Gridiron

Born in Saginaw, Michigan—a town known for producing gritty stars like future NBA Hall of Famer Draymond Green and Wolverines legend Lamar Woodley—Bell’s journey wasn’t linear. He went from a prep school in Arizona to Saint Louis University, made a JUCO stop at Moberly Area Community College, then transferred as an unranked prospect to West Virginia under Bob Huggins, before finally landing at Mississippi State.

At West Virginia, whispers of his football potential started to surface. Huggins mentioned it. Scouts listened. And after briefly practicing with Mississippi State’s football team—despite not playing the sport since high school—Bell made the leap. He spent all of 2024 training for one shot.

Timeline: The Road to the NFL

2019–2021: Saint Louis

2021–2022: Moberly Area Community College

2022–2023: West Virginia

2023–2024: Mississippi State

2024–2025: NFL Pro Day Prep → Signs with Chargers

Rare Heir

While uncommon, there is precedent. Bell joins a small fraternity of college basketball players turned NFL linemen. George Fant, once a power forward at Western Kentucky, has carved out a multi-year NFL career. Jack Wilson, a 6'11" hooper turned tackle, currently suits up for the Colts.

"We were trying to figure out the stance, said athletic trainer Scott Lashley. "We were just trying to figure out the basics of offensive line play."

The thing about being a tackle is you have to be able to shuffle them puppies which is something Bell seems to do very well...explosive around the rim which could be very essential when you have speedy defensive ends & linebackers barreling down on you

The Moment

“All you need is one scout to fall in love with you,” Bell said.

And that’s all it took.

"I’ve been through so much in my life that people will never understand," Bell said. "People told me I would never be able to do this or that—I always overcame. From when I was in 7th or 8th grade, people doubted me—from playing basketball to playing football, to just making it in life. I was just proud of myself."

The biggest kid on the block went from posting up on the block to pancake-blocking defenders in the trenches. You’ve heard the saying, ‘a face for radio’—well, Jimmy Bell Jr. played basketball, but he’s built for football.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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