Dillon Bell Talks Shining At Multiple Positions for Georgia
No one ever said major college football was easy. Between classes, practice, studying, workouts, projects, conditioning, etc. it's a wonder how these 18 to 23-year-old kids don't all get burnt out.
Trying being in Dillon Bell's shoes; learning, practicing, and playing two different positions for the No. 1 team in the country.
The sophomore's primary position is wide receiver, and he had a pretty impressive showing as a freshman catching 20 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns. With multiple running backs missing time due to injuries, the coaching staff needed someone to add depth to that position. They turned to Bell, and he's since answered the call and then some.
Bell looks like a natural at running back and receiver. His vision out of the backfield is most impressive for someone who hadn't played the position since high school. His physicality and agility were already evident on short passes, but for wide receivers, those traits seldom translate to running between the tackles.
Sep 9, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dillon Bell (86) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Ball State Cardinals during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
However, natural doesn't mean easy, Bell would tell you that himself.
"I'll be honest, I have bust some things at practice," Bell said to media on Wednesday. "It's a lot to handle, learning both positions. But at the end of the week, I get the plays down by studying, [and] during my free time I'm with the coaches.
"As I've grown in the role, my confidence has gotten higher and higher every time. Especially with them helping me every day at practice to make sure I know the plays and as I do more of the plays I get more confident."
Through five games, Bell's stats are pretty balanced. He has eight catches for 78 yards, along with 17 carries for 98 yards and a pair of touchdowns. One of those scores was a three-yard run against South Carolina which gave the Bulldogs its first lead of the game at 17-14. Georgia went on to win 24-14.
Now, it's hard to imagine Bell sticking to just one position. He's fully embraced the role and if he gets to the NFL, he hopes to continue playing running back at the next level.
"Most definitely," he said. "That is something I would love to pursue: the Deebo [Samuel] role, Ty Montgomery, Cordarrelle Patterson, guys like that."
The mention of Deebo Samuel is no coincidence. The former South Carolina and current San Fransisco 49er wideout has exceeded 200 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons, and he's on track to do it again this season.
Samuels's wide receivers coach in Columbia was none other than Bryan McClendon, Georgia's current WR coach. Bell admits to being a fan of Samuel's, and McClendon often goes over film of his with Bell.
McClendon isn't the only coach on Georgia's staff with experience with multi-position players. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo liberally used defensive backs Brandon Boykin and Branden Smith in Georgia's offense during the early 2010s. During his time as Georgia's quarterback, he played alongside two of the greatest multi-position players of the modern era: Hines Ward and Champ Bailey.
Dillon Bell has a long way to go reach the heights of those players, but after five games, who can count him out?
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- Keys to The Victory - How Georgia's Offense Gets the Job Done on Saturday
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