Michigan football WR Ronnie Bell, a two-time captain, declares for 2023 NFL draft

Michigan football wide receiver Ronnie Bell has officially declared for the 2023 NFL draft via Twitter on Thursday.

It's an announcement long anticipated from the two-time Wolverines captain; coach Jim Harbaugh said in November he didn't expect Bell to seek a sixth year of eligibility. More recently, Bell accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl — another telltale sign.

Bell tweeted out an image of himself in maize and blue and his final statement Thursday afternoon:

"I want to start by thanking God for blessing me with the ability and the chance to play this game on one of the biggest stages in college football. Giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to inspire and live out my dreams, the University of Michigan is the greatest university in the whole world and will always hold a special place in my heart."

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The senior led the Wolverines with 62 catches for 889 yards and four touchdowns, all of which were career highs for the third-team All-Big Ten wide receiver. (He also had a rushing touchdown.)

Bell was at his best late in the season, catching five passes for 67 yards and a touchdown in the Big Ten championship game and six passes for a career-high 135 yards and a touchdown in the Dec. 31 College Football Playoff semifinal loss to TCU.

Bell, whose only Division I offer was from the Wolverines, had more than 1,100 receiving yards in his sophomore and junior years combined. He was voted captain the following season as he seemed poised for a breakout senior year in 2021. Bell's only catch in the season opener went for a 76-yard touchdown; he suffered a torn ACL on a punt return later in that game against Western Michigan and missed the rest of the season.

He finished his time at U-M with 145 catches for 2,269 yards and nine receiving touchdowns.

However, the Bell name will carry on at Michigan.

His younger brother Kendrick, a three-star athlete from Kansas City, Missouri, just signed as part of the Wolverines' 2023 class. The plan for Kendrick, named the city's top player this season, is to start him as a quarterback, but coach Jim Harbaugh said he could also play receiver or corner.

Last week in Arizona, Bell said he hopes his brother will stay at quarterback and eventually lead Michigan to "places like this, the College Football Playoff." But, he added, he really just wants to see him succeed.

"Unbelievably excited for him, he's one hell of a player," Bell said. "He's a lot bigger than I am and a lot more athletic than I am, so I feel like that will be a lot of fun for coach to get his hands on."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football WR Ronnie Bell declares for 2023 NFL draft