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The Belldozer: Bell's journey plowing through obstacles to make NFL
San Francisco 49ers fans are about to learn what Oklahoma Sooners fans experienced over the last four years: Blake Bell will pursue his goals no matter the obstacle placed in front of him.
The 6-foot-6, 259-pounder earned the nickname "Belldozer" because of his physical, pounding, straight-ahead runs as a goal-line and short-yardage option at quarterback. His stint at Oklahoma's starting quarterback was shorter than expected, but it only fueled him to become a draft-worthy tight end for his senior season.
The nickname started with the media my freshman year," Bell recently told 49ers.com in an in-depth piece tracing Bell's winding pass from play-caller to pass-catcher. "The media came up with three ideas and ultimately landed on ‘Belldozer.’ The fans caught on and it stuck."
Bell believed he would be the Sooners' starting quarterback early on and lead OU to greatness. But injuries and other factors intervened. The quarterback carousel that ensued was tough on Bell and the entire family, his father Mark said.
"It was devastating to Blake and to us," Mark Bell told 49ers.com. "Blake worked so hard and he felt like he paid his dues. It was a hard thing for him and our family."
He worked equally hard to make it as a tight end once the writing was on the wall at quarterback. And that's the position the 49ers will groom Bell to play. They looked beyond his 16 receptions last season and believed enough in his size, speed and his potential to block NFL linemen and catch the football in open spaces to draft him in the fourth round.
Not so unlike his father, who is also 6-5 and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawaks in the fourth round in 1979.
"He’s a guy that can do a lot of things. His blocking will only get better the more he does it," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops told 49ers.com of Blake Bell. "He’s always been a physical and tough guy. It’s one of those things that just takes time to keep working it. He’s such a big target and has such good hands that quarterbacks like seeing him down there.
"He's got the smarts. He's a team guy. That's what NFL guys look at."
(h/t 49ers.com)
Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
