Lake Oswego star running back announces college commitment

One of the top football players in Oregon’s high school class of 2026 has found his future home.

On Tuesday, Lake Oswego running back LaMarcus Bell announced that he is verbally committed to play for Utah.

A post shared by LaMarcus “Bam” Bell (@_bam2__)

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back is considered a three-star recruit by

247Sports

, which has him listed as the No. 2 recruit in the state and the No. 1 high school running back in Oregon.

Bell spent most of his sophomore season splitting carries with Zavier Russell — a duo known by Lakers fans as “Thunder and Lightning” as Russell was the powerful, bruising runner and Bell was quicker and could create space. Bell truly took off in the 2024 fall season, where he ran for 1,630 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns and was the featured player of the Lakers’ attack.

He was a big part of the Lake Oswego offense (and an important defensive back on the other side of the ball) as the Lakers went 11-1 and played for the Class 6A open state championship.

Bell was named the

Class 6A all-state Offensive Player of the Year

, and was also the Three Rivers League Offensive Player of the Year.

Bell had previously

committed to Oregon State

back in January. But in May,

he reopened his recruitment

. He also had offers from BYU, Cal, Washington State, Arizona and Boise State,

among others

The Utes finished the 2024 season with a 5-7 record, with a 2-7 record in Big 12 play. Utah is not scheduled to play any games against Oregon schools in the 2025 season.

With Bell returning, as well as quarterback Hudson Kurland and multiple key skill position players, the Lakers are expected to be among the top Class 6A football teams again in the 2025 fall season.

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