HBCU Football: Top 5 prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft
By Dante Pryor
2. Markquese Bell, DB, Florida A&M
Florida A&M safety Markquese Bell has an opportunity to be the first HBCU player off of the board if he continues to test well. Bell is a classic thumper at safety reminiscent of LeRoy Butler and Bob Sanders. The New Jersey native is not afraid to come down to the box and mix it up in the run game.
Bell does a tremendous job of not getting lost in the mix amongst linebackers and offensive linemen in the run game with an excellent nose for the ball. The former Rattler plays with a massive chip on his shoulder and a high motor.
That’s not to say that Bell is simply a “try-hard”; he is blessed with tremendous physical gifts. He has long legs and arms, allowing him to disrupt the football at the catch point and move from the sideline with great speed.
Speed might be Bell’s greatest asset; he plays the game fast. Nothing Bell does on the field looks slow. On the other hand, everything looks fast and aggressive but not out of control. The South Florida game is a perfect example of this. It seemed like where ever the ball was, Bell was present.
Bell should expect to go somewhere in the first 90 picks.