<snip> Bell, who is 6-foot-2˝, 328 pounds, hoped to sign a contract after the second day of the seven-round NFL draft on April 24. He didn't. But Bell and his agent, John Perez, kept in touch with the Giants and Green Bay Packers.
The Giants signed Bell after he impressed them in an open tryout during their rookie mini-camp on May 6-8. He is a longshot to make the team, but as a Division III player Bell was a longshot to make it this far. Only 13 former Division III players ended last season on NFL rosters.
"Honestly, I think Alex has the potential to play in the NFL," says Hobart football coach Michael Cragg. "He might not have the experience, he might be raw, but he has the talent. He has great feet. You rarely see that on a big guy. I know (the Giants) had to notice that." <end snip>
<snip> Bell, who is 6-foot-2˝, 328 pounds, hoped to sign a contract after the second day of the seven-round NFL draft on April 24. He didn't. But Bell and his agent, John Perez, kept in touch with the Giants and Green Bay Packers.
The Giants signed Bell after he impressed them in an open tryout during their rookie mini-camp on May 6-8. He is a longshot to make the team, but as a Division III player Bell was a longshot to make it this far. Only 13 former Division III players ended last season on NFL rosters.
"Honestly, I think Alex has the potential to play in the NFL," says Hobart football coach Michael Cragg. "He might not have the experience, he might be raw, but he has the talent. He has great feet. You rarely see that on a big guy. I know (the Giants) had to notice that." <end snip>
I've seen this kid play several times. At the DIII level, he was a man among boys. The kid is a player. I won't be surprised if he makes it in the NFL. Dorgan
> <snip> > Bell, who is 6-foot-2˝, 328 pounds, hoped to sign a contract after the > second day of the seven-round NFL draft on April 24. He didn't. But Bell > and his agent, John Perez, kept in touch with the Giants and Green Bay > Packers.
> The Giants signed Bell after he impressed them in an open > tryout during their rookie mini-camp on May 6-8. He is a longshot to > make the team, but as a Division III player Bell was a longshot to make > it this far. Only 13 former Division III players ended last season on > NFL rosters.
> "Honestly, I think Alex has the potential to play in the NFL," says > Hobart football coach Michael Cragg. "He might not have the experience, > he might be raw, but he has the talent. He has great feet. You rarely > see that on a big guy. I know (the Giants) had to notice that." > <end snip>
> I've seen this kid play several times. At the DIII level, he was a man > among boys. > The kid is a player. I won't be surprised if he makes it in the NFL. > Dorgan
Sounds like a project. Probably needs a year on the practice squad. But having a horse like that in the middle of the O-line could help the running attack.
>> <snip> >> Bell, who is 6-foot-2˝, 328 pounds, hoped to sign a contract after the >> second day of the seven-round NFL draft on April 24. He didn't. But Bell >> and his agent, John Perez, kept in touch with the Giants and Green Bay >> Packers.
>> The Giants signed Bell after he impressed them in an open >> tryout during their rookie mini-camp on May 6-8. He is a longshot to >> make the team, but as a Division III player Bell was a longshot to make >> it this far. Only 13 former Division III players ended last season on >> NFL rosters.
>> "Honestly, I think Alex has the potential to play in the NFL," says >> Hobart football coach Michael Cragg. "He might not have the experience, >> he might be raw, but he has the talent. He has great feet. You rarely >> see that on a big guy. I know (the Giants) had to notice that." >> <end snip>
>> I've seen this kid play several times. At the DIII level, he was a man >> among boys. >> The kid is a player. I won't be surprised if he makes it in the NFL. >> Dorgan
> Sounds like a project. Probably needs a year on the practice squad. But > having a horse like that in the middle of the O-line could help the > running attack.
He's certainly a long shot to make it, but I just talked to his position coach at Hobart, and he told me the kid works hard and the Hobart staff are all convinced he's good enough. We'll see. It would be nice to see a kid from a small program make it. Dorgan
dor...@fltg.net (Bob Dorgan) wrote: >I've seen this kid play several times. At the DIII >level, he was a man among boys. >The kid is a player. I won't be surprised if he >makes it in the NFL.
Coach, here is an article from his college's newspaper.
<snip> "I'm looking forward to going to training camp to prove I belong, but going to camp is not my goal," Bell said. "Making the 53-man roster is my goal."
Bell did not allow a sack in his final two seasons as a Statesman. His pass blocking skills could be just what the doctor ordered for the Giants, who ranked near the bottom of the NFL in total offense (24th), passing yards (27th), and sacks allowed (fourth most).
Hobart's 2005 Francis L. "Babe" Kraus '24 Memorial Award (most outstanding senior athlete) winner, Bell led the Statesmen to a 9-2 record, the program's third consecutive Liberty League Championship, and a third consecutive postseason berth (NCAA Tournaments in 2002 and 2004 and an ECAC Bowl Championship in 2003).
Bell paved the road for the Statesmen to set team records for passing yards (2,302), passing touchdowns (31), total offense (4,501), touchdowns (50), and points (364) in 2004. Hobart's offensive line reduced the number of sacks it allowed from 43 in 2003 to 25 in 2004, despite playing one more game this year.
Bell and the Statesmen led the Liberty League in rushing offense (199.9 yds/g) and scoring (33.1 ppg). Extremely nimble for his size, Bell was even used as a running back, ŕ la Refrigerator Perry, as a first-year, scoring a pair of 1-yard touchdowns in 2001. <end snip>
