There's no time like the present to make moves in East Texas. That's especially the case for the University of Memphis, which targeted its very first local recruit Tuesday evening.

Bishop Gorman receiver Judah Bell announced through his personal Twitter account that the Tigers football program reached out to him with a college scholarship opportunity. Memphis joined Bowling Green, Coastal Carolina, Houston, Kansas, Louisiana-Lafayette, Navy, North Texas, SMU and UTSA as the 10th school interested in landing the junior's services.

Bell (6-3, 180) had a stellar junior season for Gorman. He finished a 10-game individual season with 68 catches for 1,350 yards and 16 touchdowns. Gorman reached the first round of the TAPPS Division II playoffs on the heels of a state semifinals appearance in 2014.

Memphis, like Bell, logged a breakout 2015 campaign. It opened the season with an 8-0 record with Paxton Lynch under center and climbed as high as No. 15 in the Associated Press poll, the best ranking in school history.

The Tigers' home stretch was a tough one featuring Navy, Houston and Temple, and it fell to 8-3 before taking down SMU in its final regular season game.

Memphis earned a date with Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl, a loss. However, the postseason appearance gave the school its second straight and only its seventh since joining the FBS level in 1973.

Mike Norvell, a 34-year-old Todd Graham understudy, joined the program during the offseason as its head coach following four seasons as Arizona State's offensive coordinator. He succeeded Justin Fuente, who jumped to Virginia Tech ahead of the Birmingham Bowl game.

Norvell holds the receptions record at Central Arkansas for work done between the 2001 and 2005 seasons. He coached receivers under Graham during stints at Tulsa and Pittsburgh before moving on to quarterbacks at Arizona State in addition to his coordinator duties.

Bell, like all high school players currently in their junior year, will become eligible to sign with any school that offers him in February.

2017 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

  • Judah Bell, Tyler Bishop Gorman, WR, 6-3, 180 — offers from Bowling Green, Coastal Carolina, Houston, Kansas, Memphis, Navy, North Texas, SMU, ULL, UTSA (10)
  • Noah Bush, Athens, LB, 6-2, 225 — offer from Army (1)
  • Lagaryonn Carson, Liberty-Eylau, DE, 6-4, 261 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, North Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M (9)
  • Trestan Ebner, Henderson, WR, 5-11, 180 — offers from Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, North Texas, SMU, Syracuse, UTSA, TCU, Tulsa (10)
  • Montrell Estell, Hooks, WR/DB, 6-2, 180 — offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Notre Dame, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane (12)
  • Octavius Evans, Center, WR, 6-2, 186 — offers from Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas State, ULL (6)
  • Jordan Johnson, Hooks, ATH, 6-0, 195 — committed to Air Force (1)
  • Kayce Medlock, Arp, ATH, 5-9, 186 — offers from Army, Colorado, SMU, Tulane, ULL (5)
  • Damion Miller, John Tyler, WR, 6-1, 189 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Baylor, Houston, Kansas, North Texas, Oklahoma State; Ole Miss; SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (10)
  • LaMarcus Morton, Gilmer, WR, 6-2, 175 — offer from Arkansas State, Indiana, Texas Tech, Tulsa, ULL, ULM (6)
  • Javontavius Mosley, John Tyler, CB, 6-1, 170 — offers from Arkansas State, Houston, North Texas, SMU, Texas State, ULL, ULM, UTSA (8)
  • Dhailon Phillips, Lufkin, WR, 6-3, 195 — offer from Texas State (1)
  • Kordell Rodgers, Lufkin, QB/ATH, 5-10, 165 — offer from Texas State (1)
  • Bryson Smith, John Tyler, QB/ATH, 5-11, 160 — offers from Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Houston, New Mexico, North Texas, SMU, Texas State, Tulane, ULL, ULM, UTSA (11)
  • Major Tennison, Bullard, TE, 6-6, 248 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, SMU, Texas Tech (11)
  • Josh Thompson, Nacogdoches, CB, 6-0, 180 — offered by Louisiana Tech, Ohio, SMU, Texas State, Tulane, ULM, UTSA (7)
  • Traveion Webster, Longview, S, 6-0, 197 — offered by ULM (1)

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