The next place football will take Vicksburg native and former Warren Central punter Devon Bell is to Michigan as a member of the NFL’s Detroit Lions.

The Lions announced they’ve waived punter Kyle Christy and have signed Bell on Thursday. Bell was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Mississippi State where he spent four years with the Bulldogs.

Mlive.com, a state aggregate news site in Michigan, reported Bell is expected to fill a reserve position in the offseason behind kicker Matt Prater and punter Sam Martin.

“When you have a clear vision and goal, and you’re willing to work at it, put in that time like he did and mixed with that God given talent, that’s kind of your recipe for success,” Warren Central football coach Josh Morgan said.

While in Starkville, Bell broke the school record for most points scored by a kicker in a year and established a single-season school record for attempted and made points after touchdowns, making 43 of 44 attempts.

And that was in his freshman year.

He finished his 50-game career at Mississippi State with 82 touchbacks and averaged 61.7 yards per kickoff.

But before the former Warren Central athlete swung a cowbell and donned the maroon and white as a kicker, the foundation of his career was laid at Viking Stadium.

“Devon, he was always working. He knew what he wanted to do and he put in a lot of work to get there,” Morgan said.

Morgan was aware of Bell’s free agency and is happy for his success. He still remembers Bell working on field goals, kick offs and punts in practice.

Even the sound of Bell booting the ball rings in his memory.

“Most times when kickers kick it’s a thud but when Devon kicked it’s a pop,” Morgan said. “He has an extremely powerful leg and he’s had that ever since I’ve known him.”

In 2011, Bell was the only punter since 1987 to be named The Vicksburg Post’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Morgan said he was an A, B student at Warren Central and is a pleasure to be around.

“The NFL, you’re talking about some rare company there. It’s just so difficult to get your foot in the door. I thought Devon could go very far. I’m not surprised he got a chance to kick in the NFL but it’s a big compliment,” Morgan said. “With so many accomplished kickers and punters and only 32 teams it’s really amazing.”