2022 NFL Draft Prospect: FAMU S Markquese Bell
Updated: Feb 26, 2022
Markquese Bell has had a long journey to First-Team All-MEAC. Coming out of high school in 2017 Bell was a 4 star UA All-America committed to play in the Big 10 with Maryland. Bell left Maryland his freshman year and went the JUCO route. He spent 2019 at Coffeyville CC in Kansas playing in one of the toughest JUCO conferences in the country. In 2018, Bell recorded 52 total tackles, 5 TFLs, 4 PD, and 2 ints. After catching the eyes of coaches at Coffeyville CC, Bell ended up signing with FAMU in 2019 and immediately made a difference. In his first year at FAMU, Bell was dominant. He recorded 61 tackles, 5 TFLs, 9 PD,and 5 INTs. That performance earned him a First Team All-MEAC selection. Bell is now a STAT FCS Preseason All-American and was named to the Buck Buchanan award watch list, which is reserved for the most outstanding defensive player in all of FCS football.
Markquese Bell is a very versatile safety that can play in the box and over the top. Bell’s size allows him to shed blocks and make tackles in the box. Bell’s speed and instincts help him make plays on the ball in coverage, he’s also a menacing figure over the deep middle where he can lurk in zone coverage and either come up for a big hit or make a play on the ball. At 6’3 215 lb Bell has the perfect size and skill set to play the hybrid LB/S position that is becoming a lot more popular in the NFL as TE’s get more athletic.
Bell is on a lot of people’s radar this preseason and has a chance to fly up draft boards this season. His coaches have been raving about the steps he has taken as a leader on and off the field, this could be some of the last things Bell has to prove as a prospect. If Bell can show he’s able to communicate and lead the defense, specifically the secondary, he can take his game to the next level. I project another first team all-conference season that will propel him into getting chosen in the first 3 rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Post-Season
Markquese Bell, as expected, had a great year on one of the top FCS Defenses. He had 95 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 5 FF, and 1 INT. This great season earned him another First-Team All-Conference and a FCS First-Team All-American along with an invite to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and the NFL Combine. He was also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top FCS Defensive player.
Coaches were looking for Bell to step up and lead the defense this season after a great 2019 campaign. Bell did exactly that as he led a FAMU Defense that was a top 10 FCS scoring defense. Teams seemed to stay away from Bell in coverage this season he did a great job of directing the secondary. The teams 13 INTs was tied for the conference lead. But as he did very well in 2019, Bell was even better this season in run support in 2021. He has a great ability to diagnose the run and break hard and fast to fill the gaps. His size and ability to make tackles in the open field make him very versatile, with his ability to play Free and Strong Safety along with Linebacker.
At the NFLPA Bowl, Bell got some work at Cornerback as well during practice and the game and he looked comfortable.
The Combine will be Bell's last time to impress any scouts before the draft and can possibly raise his stock. Bell is expected to run in the 4.4-4.45 range, but where Bell could turn heads are the jumping drills. In High School, Bell did High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, and Javelin for his Track and Field team. His PR high jump is 7 feet, Long Jump is 21'8 and his Triple Jump is 45'4.