History was made on Saturday during the seventh and final round of the 2023 NFL Draft and the Chicago Bears played a significant role in making it happen. The team selected defensive tackle Travis Bell with the No. 218 pick of the draft. Bell is the third defensive tackle the Bears have taken, joining Florida’s Gervon Dexter Sr. and South Carolina’s Zacch Pickens. But that’s not what makes this pick significant.
With Bell’s selection, it marks the first NFL draft pick out of Kennesaw State in their school’s history.
THE 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 @NFLDraft PICK IN KENNESAW STATE HISTORY ‼️@ChicagoBears take our guy @travisb_98 at 218th overall 👏👏#GoldStandard | #EAT pic.twitter.com/YxgwH0Qc7l
— Kennesaw State Football (@kennesawstfb) April 29, 2023
Kennesaw State (KSU) is located in Kennesaw, GA, which also happens to be the hometown of Bears quarterback Justin Fields. KSU was technically established in 1963 as Kennesaw Junior College and became a university in 2015, the same year their football program was founded. They originally were part of the Big South Conference but joined the ASUN Conference last season, finishing with 5-6 record. KSU plays in the FCS.
Time will tell how Bell’s career will turn out the next level, but he can always look back and say he was part of history.
