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CORAL GABLES — Markel Bell, Miami’s 6-foot-9, junior college transfer, was not expected to start last year. But when Jalen Rivers suffered an injury that limited him to eight games, Bell took over his spot at left tackle.
Bell performed well enough that when Rivers returned, the coaches moved Rivers to left guard on some drives so Bell could get playing time at left tackle.
Entering his second year with UM, Bell is slated to take over as the Hurricanes’ left tackle, and the tall senior is significantly improved from where he was last year.
“He’s night and day. He’s a 180,” offensive line coach Alex Mirabal said. “He’s a different player than when he was, when he first came here. And he came here with a great foundation from his offensive line coach at junior college, Les George. But he just keeps getting better and better with repetition.”
Bell said the game moved quickly when he first got to UM. Adjusting from junior college in Mississippi to the ACC was the first big challenge.
“Everything’s much faster,” Bell said. “And you’re going against guys that are not coming out of high school. You’re going against guys that are also well-coached and have the same resources as you, so you really have to be on your A-game. You have to be technically sound, no matter how big, how fast, how small. You have to be really technically sound.”
Bell earned a 61.9 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus. The site gave him a 60.9 run-blocking grade and a 62.9 pass-blocking grade. He allowed three sacks, a quarterback hit and 17 total pressures.
“I would most definitely say that the reps that I did get last year (were) very impactful,” Bell said. “I took advantage of any rep that I did get, and I’m so grateful that I did get those reps because now it’s setting me up for me taking on this new job that I have as the starting left tackle.”
Bell said he learned patience from Rivers, and now UM coach Mario Cristobal says Bell has had a great spring camp so far.
“I think now he’s really comfortable at using his length and playing with balance and body control,” Cristobal said. “He has natural power, plays with natural leverage.”
Mirabal described Bell’s side as a blessing and a curse. Bell needs to make sure he is able to bend and move well enough to keep defensive ends from getting below and around him. Although Bell’s large frame is eye-catching, Mirabal said the lineman is more than just his size. He is working on his flexibility and mobility so he can become a better all-around offensive lineman.
“At first, it was always, ‘Wow, he’s big.’ Yeah, no doubt. He’s 6-9,” Mirabal said. “But now he’s starting to play where now people are talking about his level of play. People are talking about his technique and not just the fact that he’s 6-9. He’s a darn good football player who happens to be 6-foot-9.”
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Bell performed well enough that when Rivers returned, the coaches moved Rivers to left guard on some drives so Bell could get playing time at left tackle.
Entering his second year with UM, Bell is slated to take over as the Hurricanes’ left tackle, and the tall senior is significantly improved from where he was last year.
“He’s night and day. He’s a 180,” offensive line coach Alex Mirabal said. “He’s a different player than when he was, when he first came here. And he came here with a great foundation from his offensive line coach at junior college, Les George. But he just keeps getting better and better with repetition.”
Bell said the game moved quickly when he first got to UM. Adjusting from junior college in Mississippi to the ACC was the first big challenge.
“Everything’s much faster,” Bell said. “And you’re going against guys that are not coming out of high school. You’re going against guys that are also well-coached and have the same resources as you, so you really have to be on your A-game. You have to be technically sound, no matter how big, how fast, how small. You have to be really technically sound.”
Bell earned a 61.9 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus. The site gave him a 60.9 run-blocking grade and a 62.9 pass-blocking grade. He allowed three sacks, a quarterback hit and 17 total pressures.
“I would most definitely say that the reps that I did get last year (were) very impactful,” Bell said. “I took advantage of any rep that I did get, and I’m so grateful that I did get those reps because now it’s setting me up for me taking on this new job that I have as the starting left tackle.”
Bell said he learned patience from Rivers, and now UM coach Mario Cristobal says Bell has had a great spring camp so far.
“I think now he’s really comfortable at using his length and playing with balance and body control,” Cristobal said. “He has natural power, plays with natural leverage.”
Mirabal described Bell’s side as a blessing and a curse. Bell needs to make sure he is able to bend and move well enough to keep defensive ends from getting below and around him. Although Bell’s large frame is eye-catching, Mirabal said the lineman is more than just his size. He is working on his flexibility and mobility so he can become a better all-around offensive lineman.
“At first, it was always, ‘Wow, he’s big.’ Yeah, no doubt. He’s 6-9,” Mirabal said. “But now he’s starting to play where now people are talking about his level of play. People are talking about his technique and not just the fact that he’s 6-9. He’s a darn good football player who happens to be 6-foot-9.”
Continue reading...
