Wide receiver Ronnie Bell spent four successful seasons playing alongside Jake Moody at the University of Michigan, and now they are reunited as fellow draft picks for the San Francisco 49ers.
Naturally, Bell had high expectations for Moody when he lined up for a crucial 41-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds of last Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
Although Moody missed the kick, Bell’s faith in his former teammate remains unwavering.
During a special-teams section of practice, Bell took the opportunity to express his confidence in Moody to 49ers general manager John Lynch.
“I approached Lynch because I truly believe in Moody’s abilities,” Bell said in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area.
During the offseason, Lynch made the decision not to re-sign veteran kicker Robbie Gould and instead brought in Moody, selecting him with the 99th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Bell spoke highly of Moody’s skills and potential to Lynch, stating that he has been consistently outstanding throughout their time together.
Bell’s sentiments about Moody were echoed by Lynch, who shared the same unwavering confidence in the young kicker.
“He told me they feel the same way,” Bell revealed. “They have the utmost confidence in Jake. It was encouraging to hear.”
Last week’s game against the Browns was a disappointing performance for the 49ers, but they had a chance to come away with a victory. Unfortunately, Moody’s field goal attempt drifted wide right, resulting in a 19-17 loss and a 5-1 season record for the team.
Bell made sure to offer his support and encouragement to Moody personally.
“I told him that every great story involves adversity,” Bell shared. “I’m excited to see how he grows and becomes even greater from this experience.”
Despite the missed kicks in the previous game, Moody had started the season on a positive note, making his first nine field-goal attempts. He has also been perfect on all 22 extra-point attempts.
The 49ers will face the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night in their next game.
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ohn Smith is your NFL insider, providing in-depth coverage of football’s biggest league. With a passion for the game and a keen eye for statistics, John delivers game analysis, player profiles, and breaking news to keep readers updated on all things NFL.
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