Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Eureka senior Trevor Bell

By Ray Hamill — Eureka senior Trevor Bell is expected to compete for the starting quarterback job at Santa Rosa JC this summer after recently verbally committing to play for the Bear Cubs.

He will, however, have his work cut out for him, especially after the Bear Cubs prioritized the position during their recruiting drive this year.

Head coach Lenny Wagner described 2019 as a “terrible quarterback situation” for the team, after his all-star starter left in July when he received a scholarship offer from a four-year school just weeks before the season.

Because of that, the Santa Rosa coaches have brought in what they view as four strong quarterbacks, including Bell, to compete for the starting job this summer.

“It’s a wide-open spot right now,” Wagner said, adding that Bell will “have some good competition.”

The Eureka senior was impressive playing the position at Eureka, taking over the starting job as a senior after backing up Cruz Montana on the legendary Loggers team that made it to the state playoffs the previous year.

And Wagner is looking forward to having his talents at Santa Rosa.

“We’re excited to have him,” the Bear Cubs head coach said. “The guy wins. He comes from a very good program and he’s had very good coaches.”

In particular, Wagner praised the Loggers coaches, including former head coach Jason White, for the way their prepare their players for college, both as students who understand the game and people.

“When you get guys that come from programs like that, it’s real beneficial,” he said.

With the intense competition at quarterback, Wagner did not rule out utilizing the versatile Bell elsewhere or the possibility of a red-shirt season.

“He’s a good enough athlete he might fill in somewhere else,” he said. “And red-shirting is always a possibility.”

Bell joins former St. Bernard’s players Micah Fontenot-Cornely and Lane Thrap, each of whom will play receiver at Santa Rosa this fall.