219th overall, Buffalo Bills select: Demetrius Bell, OT

[FLABillsFan]

Offensive Tackle | Senior | Northwestern St.
Demetrius Bell
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 303 | 40-Time: 5.22

Official Bio

Strengths:
Excellent size with the frame to get even bigger...An outstanding athlete...Is light on his feet...Quick with terrific agility and balance..Mobile enough to work in space and get to the second level..Really excels in pass protection...Has a ton of upside.

Weaknesses:
Extremely raw and only has three years of football experience...Is not very strong or powerful...Isn't stout at the point...Does not get a great push...Has a long way to go when it comes to technique...Poor leverage...Awareness and football IQ are sub par..May lack a nasty demeanor...Didn't play against a lot of elite competition.

Notes:
Nickname is "D-Bell"...Reportedly the son of former NBA star Karl Malone...Did not play football in high school....Was primarily a basketball player early in his college career and only dedicated himself to the gridiron in 2007...Was a defensive end in '05 and then moved to the offensive line in '06...The definition of a developmental prospect and he'll require a lot of patience but has the physical tools you look for.

[rmarthur_34]

Sounds like a great project pick

[CTbillsfan23]

i like Karl Malone... lol

[Marshawn-2-the-housee]

well throw him on the practice squad see what happens over the next year

[The_General 83]

love it this guy screams practice sqaud

[schenfield05]

almost like when Peters came in as a free agent...OT light on his feet a project pick...I really like it

[lynchevans]

Wow ...we got the son of Karl Malone .....i hope to see him at camp ...... get my jersey ready ....

[bigdingus04]

"Reportedly the son of former NBA star Karl Malone"

So he doesn't know if that's really his daddy or not? lol

[bills101]

good depth

[kcnovA23]

The Mailman Jr. Delivers!

[osucollegebuckeye]

Over Kirk Barton? Dumb Dumb Dumb

[rmarthur_34]

almost like when Peters came in as a free agent...OT light on his feet a project pick...I really like it

Exactly what I think as well. Of course he would be light on his feet, he was on a basketball scholorship.

[FLABillsFan]

Overview

Exciting raw talent with the size, athletic ability and rapid improvement to warrant the patience needed for development. Signed with Northwestern State on a basketball scholarship and has only played organized football since 2005. Originally played defensive end, but was quickly switched to left tackle and has developed into an All-American honoree. Raw as they come, but scouts love his upside.

High School

Bell earned Shreveport Times Player of the Week honors as a senior, as well as an honorable mention All-American in Street & Smith Magazine... played under coach Johnny Jackson and NSU alumnus Dan Weaver at Summerfield High in Claiborne Parish... MVP in District 1-C in senior year averaging 17.75 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game... All-district pick all 4 years, earning first-team honors for final three and Defensive Player of the Year his junior season... part of a 33-7 state championship team during freshman year... also involved in Future Business Leaders of America and FCA.

Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.

[lynchisthefuture]

Sounds like they are going for another Jason Peters.

[kellyTOreed99]

needs to bulk up but the athleticism is intriuging

[FLABillsFan]

Analysis

Positives: Long armed, athletic build with plenty of room for additional growth. ... Trim build for an offensive lineman with good overall muscular development in his upper and lower. ... Good overall athlete. ... Good initial quickness off the snap, in pass protection to mirror and when blocking at the second level. ... Quick hands which could become very effective with further development. ... Significant improvement in three seasons with the athleticism to continue development.

Negatives: Raw as they come. ... Quality of competition a concern. ... Lacks the bulk and necessary strength to compete at the NFL level at this time. ... Gets by on his quickness, but lacks explosiveness in his initial hand punch and the anchor to handle effective bull rushers. ... Hasn't learned yet to play with leverage.

Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.

[nomoredyess]

almost like when Peters came in as a free agent...OT light on his feet a project pick...I really like it

Thats exactly what I thought as I was reading the bio!!

[phil]

Wow ...we got the son of Karl Malone .....i hope to see him at camp ...... get my jersey ready ....

what do you expect from a 7th round pick you ****ing tool?

[Billsfanatbirth]

"Reportedly the son of Karl Malone" this pick was worth it just for that. I really wished we had picked up Caleb Campbell, **** Lions

[KcoxBillsfan]

Offensive Tackle | Senior | Northwestern St.
Demetrius Bell
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 303 | 40-Time: 5.22

Official Bio

Strengths:
Excellent size with the frame to get even bigger...An outstanding athlete...Is light on his feet...Quick with terrific agility and balance..Mobile enough to work in space and get to the second level..Really excels in pass protection...Has a ton of upside.

Weaknesses:
Extremely raw and only has three years of football experience...Is not very strong or powerful...Isn't stout at the point...Does not get a great push...Has a long way to go when it comes to technique...Poor leverage...Awareness and football IQ are sub par..May lack a nasty demeanor...Didn't play against a lot of elite competition.

Notes:
Nickname is "D-Bell"...Reportedly the son of former NBA star Karl Malone...Did not play football in high school....Was primarily a basketball player early in his college career and only dedicated himself to the gridiron in 2007...Was a defensive end in '05 and then moved to the offensive line in '06...The definition of a developmental prospect and he'll require a lot of patience but has the physical tools you look for.

Malone was "The Mailman."

Bell will be "The Paperboy."

[streetkings01]

what do you expect from a 7th round pick you ****ing tool?Whats your problem man?

[BillsFann]

http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/draftguys-tv/profile---demetrius-bell---ol?autoplay=true

Draftguys.tv covered him!

[thomps]

could this guy be the new tight end....since he played basketball i assume he can catch

[phil]

Whats your problem man?

I don't suffer idiots easily.

[FreeSafety36]

"Reportedly the son of former NBA star Karl Malone"

So he doesn't know if that's really his daddy or not? lol

That's exactly what I was thinking.

I wonder if Demetrius knows they have tests for that kind of thing...

[bobbyraul]

Practice Squad

Cant Complain 7th Round

[Lirdoco]

love it this guy screams practice sqaud

I think we need 2 back up OT in the 53 man roster and we just kave Kirk, so I think he will make it

[MCNPA]

Sounds like a very good pick. You can't teach athleticism at his great size. It seems like his weaknesses are really only based on poor coaching and weight training at a subpar school. If that is the case, then he certainly has a lot of upside. Get him in an NFL weight program and that athleticism will become explosiveness. NFL coaches teaching technique as well. Good depth pick and upside it seems.

[BadLandsMeanie]

Malone was "The Mailman."

Bell will be "The Paperboy."

Thats funny but I don't know why! :lol2:

[timekills]

Hmm. The only thing that bothers me about this, is it is yet another OL without a "nasty streak" or "big push". I know the NFL is becoming ever more a passing game, but we don't have any OL that are really good at the get down and push the DL for a three yard gain. I.E. Nasty, strong, run blockers.

[StoneRaizer]

If he's as raw as he says he is, lets hope he's coachable. But at 6'5" 303, with the possibility to get even bigger, you can teach technique but you sure as hell can't teach size.

[bigdingus04]

That's exactly what I was thinking.

I wonder if Demetrius knows they have tests for that kind of thing...

Exactly. It seems strange nobody has investigated that "claim."

[AthensThunder]

i like Karl Malone... lol
Didn't acknowledge his son until he was 18 then told him to have a good life and left again.
Yea there is so much to love about Malone who was a primeir player in the "nothing but me " league.

[AthensThunder]

That's exactly what I was thinking.

I wonder if Demetrius knows they have tests for that kind of thing...
DNA test done and was positive which still invoked no family feelings from Malone.

[Whitner]

you guys need to wake up, Peters was a FA we didnt select him while guys like King Dunlap were still on the board. lets looks back in 3 years and see where king dunlap is and this guy is. in case you hadnt noticed we suck and havent made the playoffs since 99. and this is why drafting players to the Practice squad when plenty of talent is still out there. hell even lance leggette would have been a better project

[VictheDemon]

Sounds like a very good pick. You can't teach athleticism at his great size. It seems like his weaknesses are really only based on poor coaching and weight training at a subpar school. If that is the case, then he certainly has a lot of upside. Get him in an NFL weight program and that athleticism will become explosiveness. NFL coaches teaching technique as well. Good depth pick and upside it seems.

D-Bell is a great pick. On that you are correct. He has the physical attributes in his agility and toughness and he has a mean/dirty streak when called for, but he was also the peacemaker on the field when something got over the line. He was a great leader on our basketball team too. He is humble and a great person who actually worked in the campus police station here (they all think the world of him). He works hard - how many guys getting ready for the draft were clearing land and hauling pulpwood to pick up extra cash 2 weeks before the draft? He has no ego and knows he has to do more to win a job. "Now it's time to go to work" was his quote after getting drafted. He will get stronger fast now that for the first time in his life, he is going through an offseason program instead of playing college basketball. Please think about that fact and imagine if any other NFL players, let alone linemen, fit that description. He added 25 pounds since the end of football season before the combine and didn't lose any agility. Think about how strong he might be this time next year.

Our head strength coach was recently hired by the Browns, and formerly coordinated strength program for NFL Europe, so I would say he knew what he was doing. Again, D-Bell was playing hoops when the other football players were getting stronger during the winter and before spring practice. Our offensive line coach was a 2-time All-Big 12 player at Okie State and spent time with the Lions as a player, so I would say he has a clue, too. Consider this - he got D-Bell handed to him, with a blank slate and NO previous experience at the position (and only 1 year of football before that), and two years later the kid is drafted ahead of a lot of lifelong players. Bad coaching and that diamond in the rough never sparkles.

Bell wasn't playing podunk football. The Demons lined up at Kansas and Baylor in his first two games in 2006 and he was the offensive line MVP at Kansas. He played very well this year in games at Texas Tech and especially at Ole Miss, going up against a draft prospect. The Demons rolled up 499 yards and scored 31 points on Ole Miss (lost 38-31). Ole Miss wasn't great, but they gave several SEC schools last-minute games and took LSU to OT a week after playing us in 2006.

Third round Eagles pick Bryan Smith at rival McNeese State said Bell was the best player he faced. He should. Bell dominated him in 2006 and was whipping him again this year (we ran for 260+ on them) when Smith, who will be a good pro, left with an ankle injury.

As for NSU being a subpar school (football wise), have you heard of Terrence McGee? He's not too shabby. How about former Bills Al Edwards (starter in a Super Bowl) and Craig Nall (might have been the right answer at QB for the Bills).

McGee is one of 8 Pro Bowl Demons. Heard of Bobby Hebert, Mark Duper, Gary Reasons, the late and great Joe Delaney, AFL legends Charlie Hennigan (still ranks in the top 5 in 4-5 NFL receiving records) and Charlie Tolar (Czonka modeled his running style after the original Human Bowling Ball), or maybe Pro Football HOF tight end Jackie Smith?

There are 5 other Demons playing in the NFL right now. Not bad for a "subpar" school.

One last point - please do not get caught up in this Karl Malone storyline. It doesn't define D-Bell. He doesn't shy away from the facts, but he is his own man, and is the kind of person you would want next to you as a neighbor and a teammate. I hope and believe he will, given time to learn and develop, become a multi-year NFL starter. But if he's not, he'll succeed in life. I've watched him for 5 years just like I've watched a lot of other FOOTBALL players come out of here to the NFL, and he's one of the top-end as far as NFL long-term potential. I am happy he's with the Bills who seem to understand he is to some degree a project - but he doesn't see himself as that, he believes he needs to earn his keep and play this year.