The Chicago Bears selected Travis Bell with the 218th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Most seventh-rounders are fliers and long shots to make an impact on an NFL roster. The Bears took a shot on Bell because of his athleticism and his character.
Travis Bell is a six-foot-one, 305-pound defensive tackle from Kennesaw State University. Bell has the athleticism that the Chicago Bears’ front office covets. At his Pro Day, he completed 30 reps on the bench press, had a vertical jump of 32.5 inches, and ran the forty-yard dash in 5.01 seconds. According to Kent Lee Platte, Bell recorded a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.25.
Travis Bell played defensive line, linebacker, running back and fullback in high school. He graduated from Kennesaw State University in four years but returned for a fifth. As a member of the Owls, Bell accumulated 124 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumbles recovered in 54 games. Bell also blocked a field goal last year against Austin Peay State University. When Bell was selected, he became the first draft pick in Kennesaw State’s history. The only player from Kennesaw State to ever set foot on an NFL field was Auzoyah Alufohai. He recorded one tackle in three games as a member of the Houston Texans in 2020. Hopefully, Bell will have a more significant impact and a longer playing career as a member of the Bears.
Game film on Travis Bell is hard to come by, but Ryan Poles stated that “[Bell] runs sideline-to-sideline … and it stands out on tape. I love the intensity that he plays with again. That’s going to make us better.
In his post-draft press conference, Ryan Poles stated, “[Travis] is probably one of my favorite human beings. He is a special person. I didn’t want him to leave after his [Top] 30 visit, and he didn’t want to leave either. There’s something different about this guy. He’s passionate about the game.” Poles stated that Bell worked a full-time job as a student-athlete and would often show up to the locker room in his work clothes.
When the Chicago Bears drafted Travis Bell, they selected a man who loves football and would do anything to make an impact on the field. He is a hardworking defensive lineman who fits the athletic traits of Matt Eberflus’ “HITS” principle.
