With San Francisco's eighth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the 49ers selected Ronnie Bell from the University of Michigan 253rd overall.

Keep reading to learn more about San Francisco's newest wide receiver.

@Ronnieb_8/Twitter

Bell grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and attended Park Hill High School where he was most known for his skills on the basketball court.

Before the wide receiver earned any offers to play college football, Bell originally committed to playing basketball at Missouri State University. When Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh got ahold of Bell's high school football film, the University of Michigan became the only football program to send him an offer.

"I didn't necessarily choose (Michigan)," Bell said on the 'Prepare To Be Amaized' podcast. "I had one offer to play football, so it was more so me choosing football than it was choosing Michigan. But I'm definitely grateful and blessed... The story he (Harbaugh) told me was that his brother-in-law coached basketball at Blue Springs South, which is a school in the same conference as me back home. He talked highly of me because my senior year I went crazy. The year before I jumped over a kid from Blue Springs South and dunked over him."

David Smith/810 Varsity

Bell's football stats earned him a spot among Missouri state record-holders.

The wide receiver ranks in the top three in reception yards and touchdowns in Missouri state history, trailing only former NFL wide receivers Dorial Green-Beckham and Jeremy Maclin.

Rick Scuteri/AP

Bell appeared in 47 games over his collegiate career, totaling 145 receptions for 2,269 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2022, the wide receiver started all 14 games and led the team with 62 receptions for 889 yards and four touchdowns. He also recorded 27 rushing yards and one score on the ground.

Following the 2022 season, the wide receiver earned an All-Big Ten third-team selection and was named Michigan's Offensive Skill Player of the Year.

Michael Conroy/AP

At the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, Bell ran a 4.54 second 40-yard dash, 1.52-second 10-yard split, 6.98-second 3-cone drill and recorded a 38.5-inch vertical jump.

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described Bell as a "true Michigan man, displaying the competitive spirit and work ethic expected inside the program... The tape shows some incredible near-catches at challenging angles. So, his ball skills are a strength."

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

At Michigan, Bell also showed his skills as a return specialist. He returned 13 punts for 150 yards and two kicks for 53 yards throughout his college career. With the 49ers, he could provide depth in the return game behind Ray-Ray McCloud III.

"Versatility is one thing for sure that I've always taken a lot of pride in," Bell said. "The energy that I play with, the savviness that I play with is what always separated me. Those characteristics I hope will continue to shine through as I move on to the next level."

back to topUp Next Latest Videos Channel 49ers Foundation's 2023 Golden Getaway Weekend and Celebrity Golf Tournament Latest Videos Channel Arik Armstead Shares His Most Anticipated Matchups for 2023 Latest Videos Channel Cart Talk: On the Course at Golden Getaway with Armstead, Warner and Flannigan-Fowles Latest Videos Channel 49ers Foundation Announces African American Female Excellence as Newest Legacy Beneficiary Latest Videos Channel Steve Wilks: 'To Be Here is a Blessing' Latest Videos Channel 49ers Live Update: Breaking Down the 2023 Schedule Latest Videos Channel Get Hyphy! The 49ers 2023 Schedule is Here Latest Videos Channel Follow Alfredo Gutierrez Around a San Jose Earthquakes Match Latest Videos Channel 49ers Players Hype Up the Crowd at an Earthquakes Game  Latest Videos Channel Kickin' It: 49ers Specialists Compete in Skills Challenges with SJ Earthquakes Latest Videos Channel Getting to Know 49ers LB Dee Winters Latest Videos Channel Getting to Know 49ers LB Jalen Graham Latest Videos Channel John Lynch Recaps the 49ers 2023 NFL Draft Latest Videos Channel WR Ronnie Bell Gets the Draft Call at No. 253 Overall Latest Videos Channel CB Darrell Luter Jr. Gets the Draft Call at No. 155 Overall Latest Videos Channel DL Robert Beal Jr. Gets the Draft Call at No. 173 Overall Latest Videos Channel TE Brayden Willis Gets the Draft Call at  No. 247 Overall Latest Videos Channel LB Dee Winters Gets the Draft Call at No. 216 Overall Latest Videos Channel LB Jalen Graham Gets the Draft Call at No. 255 Overall Latest Videos Channel Getting to Know 49ers WR Ronnie Bell  Latest Videos Channel Getting to Know 49ers TE Brayden Willis Latest Videos Channel 49ers Introduce Seventh-Round Pick WR Ronnie Bell Latest Videos Channel Adam Peters and Tariq Ahmad Review 49ers 2023 Draft Class Latest Videos Channel 49ers Introduce Seventh-Round Pick TE Brayden Willis Latest Videos Channel John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan Recap Final Day of the 2023 NFL Draft Latest Videos Channel Michigan WR Ronnie Bell Selected 253rd Overall by the 49ers Latest Videos Channel Oklahoma TE Brayden Willis Selected 247th Overall by the 49ers Latest Videos Channel Purdue LB Jalen Graham Selected 255th Overall by the 49ers Latest Videos Channel 49ers Introduce Sixth-Round Pick LB Dee Winters Latest Videos Channel TCU LB Dee Winters Selected 216th Overall by the 49ers Latest Videos Channel Getting to Know 49ers CB Darrell Luter Jr.  Latest Videos Channel 49ers Introduce Fifth-Round Pick DL Robert Beal Jr. Latest Videos Channel Georgia DL Robert Beal Jr. Selected 173th Overall by 49ers Latest Videos Channel 49ers Introduce Fifth-Round Pick CB Darrell Luter Jr. Latest Videos Channel Alabama CB Darrell Luter Jr. Selected 155th Overall by 49ers Latest Videos Channel Getting to Know 49ers TE Cameron Latu Latest Videos Channel TE Cameron Latu Gets the Draft Call at No. 101 Overall Latest Videos Channel K Jake Moody Gets the Draft Call at No. 99 Overall Latest Videos Channel S Ji'Ayir Brown Gets the Draft Call at No. 87 Overall Latest Videos Channel Getting to Know 49ers K Jake Moody