David Bell, Purdue, #3, Junior, Indianapolis, IN, 6’2”, 205
40-yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Career: First Team All-Big Ten as a sophomore and junior. Finished career as a consensus First Team All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist. Garnered 232 receptions, 2,946 yards, and 21 touchdowns through the air over 29 games.
Red Flags: None
Strengths: Fearless and gritty receiver that routinely puts his body second and makes the catch first. Hardly fazed when met by contact after reeling in the pass and is malleable enough to absorb the blow and keep the play alive. Played on the perimeter with ample time in the slot to create mismatches. Poor QB play often forced Bell to contort himself for an impressive resume of out-of-frame catches that showcased elite body control and tracking skills. Footwork is quick and technical with no false steps. Great mix and understanding of how to utilize patience and suddenness to increase separation once he breaks. Changes direction in a blink and closes off angles with remarkable burst. Great awareness when knifing through zone coverage – good at timing his cuts as the defenders mellow out to provide an open look.
Weaknesses: Not a burner. He won’t simply torch a defensive back on a straight-line release. Would have liked to see Bell use his frame more to better protect the catch point. Press skills and initial hand-fighting need improvement to shed arm strikes more effectively. Struggles to lock in his block during run support. Could work on selling his routes with his entire body, not just in his hips.
Final Word: A productive receiver that earned targets through a variety of ways at Purdue, Bell is physical in every aspect of his game and will do everything in his power to work back to the ball. His mechanical route running, field vision, and real-time processing will translate well to the NFL. While the versatility he enjoyed as a member of the Boilermakers likely will diminish at the next level, Bell projects as a player that can grow into a permanent role at the X position.
Fit Likelihood: Medium
Grade: Early 2nd
Film Highlights
Bell using every element of the field to lose his defender vertical against Minnesota in 2020.
Purdue WR David Bell using the tight end as a point man to rub the defender off his skinny post pic.twitter.com/HJ7KVWD6hc
— Cole Topham (@HamAnalysis) January 24, 2022
Bell showcasing his technicality as a route runner on a Sluggo against Iowa.
On his lone touchdown of the game against Iowa, David Bell fakes an inside move before quickly changing direction. Perfect placed ball by Aidan O'Connell too. Bell is a solid red zone target. pic.twitter.com/C5APhprqrN
— Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) October 21, 2021
