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It’s back to the future of sorts for Dillon Bell.
The Georgia football senior wide receiver had the third-most carries of any player two years ago for a backfield depleted by injuries.
Now the Bulldogs’ leading returning receiver from last year’s team is being prepped to carry a bigger load again to help a running back corps that this spring is led by sophomore Nate Frazier and freshman Bo Walker after Trevor Etienne declared for the NFL Draft.
"I feel like me being versatile, helping the team as much as I can, I feel like that was something I wanted to do for the team," Bell said. "I'm a team player. I'll do whatever it takes to win championships."
Bell has increased his catch total in each of his three Georgia seasons. The Houston native had 20 for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2022, 29 for 355 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2023 and 43 for 466 and yards 4 touchdowns last season.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Bell drew comparisons to Deebo Samuel, the versatile former South Carolina and current NFL star, when he rushed for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries as a sophomore but he had just 107 yards on 9 carries and a touchdown last year.
“Dillon Bell has taken some reps there,” coach Kirby Smart said. “We mix Dillon in practice to practice. He works in the slot. He's trying to develop as a wide receiver and a back. He's been great and in a good attitude and being committed to, ‘Coach, if it means me playing 10, 15 snaps at back, I want to do it. If I can develop as a slot, I want to do it.’”
Bell had his share of drops last season — 6 for a 12.2% drop rate, according to Pro Football Focus.
He leads a receiver group that includes Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas and Southern Cal transfer Zachariah Branch.
"He's a great guy and he's a great player as well," Branch said of Bell. "He brings that passion and fire to the group and he's done a great job helping me learn the offense as well. I definitely do appreciate him and everything he's helped me get to throughout this process. He's doing really good out there and I'm trying to learn a lot from him."
Smart said the offense had some explosive runs in the team's first spring scrimmage last Saturday, but he's looking for more from both the run game and the run defense.
"It's not where it needs to be on either side of the ball, to be honest with you," he said. "We don't run the ball well or stop the run. I think a lot of that comes from a physical mentality."
Bell’s younger brother, Micah, who transferred from Vanderbilt and previously played at Notre Dame, is a transfer running back. Dillon said he's trying to get as fast as Micah.
"Who's the better running back? Shoot, neither of us," Dillon said with a big smile. "We're both trying to get to that point where we can be great."
Dillon pushes Micah in the weight room and Micah pushes Dillon in sprint work.
"It's great having him here," Dillon Bell said. "Sometimes on our rest days, we put in work with each other. It's always great to have that with someone I've been living with since he was born. I push him when we're at practice since we're playing the same position. He's teaching me some stuff and I'm teaching him some stuff."
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: How Georgia football is using wide receiver Dillon Bell in offense
Continue reading...
The Georgia football senior wide receiver had the third-most carries of any player two years ago for a backfield depleted by injuries.
Now the Bulldogs’ leading returning receiver from last year’s team is being prepped to carry a bigger load again to help a running back corps that this spring is led by sophomore Nate Frazier and freshman Bo Walker after Trevor Etienne declared for the NFL Draft.
"I feel like me being versatile, helping the team as much as I can, I feel like that was something I wanted to do for the team," Bell said. "I'm a team player. I'll do whatever it takes to win championships."
Bell has increased his catch total in each of his three Georgia seasons. The Houston native had 20 for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2022, 29 for 355 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2023 and 43 for 466 and yards 4 touchdowns last season.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Bell drew comparisons to Deebo Samuel, the versatile former South Carolina and current NFL star, when he rushed for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries as a sophomore but he had just 107 yards on 9 carries and a touchdown last year.
“Dillon Bell has taken some reps there,” coach Kirby Smart said. “We mix Dillon in practice to practice. He works in the slot. He's trying to develop as a wide receiver and a back. He's been great and in a good attitude and being committed to, ‘Coach, if it means me playing 10, 15 snaps at back, I want to do it. If I can develop as a slot, I want to do it.’”
Bell had his share of drops last season — 6 for a 12.2% drop rate, according to Pro Football Focus.
He leads a receiver group that includes Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas and Southern Cal transfer Zachariah Branch.
"He's a great guy and he's a great player as well," Branch said of Bell. "He brings that passion and fire to the group and he's done a great job helping me learn the offense as well. I definitely do appreciate him and everything he's helped me get to throughout this process. He's doing really good out there and I'm trying to learn a lot from him."
Smart said the offense had some explosive runs in the team's first spring scrimmage last Saturday, but he's looking for more from both the run game and the run defense.
"It's not where it needs to be on either side of the ball, to be honest with you," he said. "We don't run the ball well or stop the run. I think a lot of that comes from a physical mentality."
Bell’s younger brother, Micah, who transferred from Vanderbilt and previously played at Notre Dame, is a transfer running back. Dillon said he's trying to get as fast as Micah.
"Who's the better running back? Shoot, neither of us," Dillon said with a big smile. "We're both trying to get to that point where we can be great."
Dillon pushes Micah in the weight room and Micah pushes Dillon in sprint work.
"It's great having him here," Dillon Bell said. "Sometimes on our rest days, we put in work with each other. It's always great to have that with someone I've been living with since he was born. I push him when we're at practice since we're playing the same position. He's teaching me some stuff and I'm teaching him some stuff."
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: How Georgia football is using wide receiver Dillon Bell in offense
Continue reading...
