Blake Bell Lincoln Bound?

[Nate]

 

Blake Bell has been on quite the roller coaster ride throughout his football career at Oklahoma.

Bell became a cult hero to Sooner fans as the “Belldozer,” when he would replace starting quarterback Landry Jones and plow ahead for short-yardage first downs and touchdowns. He was named as Jones' primary backup before the 2012 season, seemingly cementing his status as the record-setting quarterback's heir apparent.

 

OU quarterback Blake Bell will remain the starter for the Sooners. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman

 

But Bell lost the preseason quarterback battle to redshirt freshman Trevor Knight, who struggled and then was injured after less than two full games, giving Bell his shot. In his first two starts, Bell was outstanding, but mostly struggled after that. He suffered a concussion against Iowa State, Knight started the Sooners' road victory at Kansas State two weeks ago and played well, making it clear that Bell's career as Oklahoma's starting quarterback is all but finished.

Academically, Bell is classified as a senior, meaning he could graduate and transfer to another FBS school without sitting out a season, per NCAA rules. If Bell took that path, here's a look at three possible programs that he could look to for one final shot at being a major college football starting quarterback:

KANSAS

The connection: Bell listed Kansas as one of his favorites early in the spring of 2009. The Lawrence campus is only about a two-hour drive from his hometown of Wichita. His cousin, Beau Bell, is currently a sophomore linebacker for the Jayhawks. Also, KU coach Charlie Weis tried to recruit Bell to Notre Dame while Weis was head coach there, so a previous relationship between the two exists.

Why it could work: Weis has brought in FBS-transfer quarterbacks the past two seasons, and OU coach Bob Stoops allowed receiver Justin McCay to transfer to Kansas two years ago. This season, junior Jake Heaps — a BYU transfer — hasn't been effective and was benched after starting the first nine games. True freshman Montell Cozart started the final three games of the season but wasn't much better. Heaps replaced him in the third quarter of a 34-0 shellacking from Iowa State two weeks ago. Cozart did help the Jayhawks snap their 27-game Big 12 losing streak against West Virginia on Nov. 16.

QBs returning in 2014: Heaps, Cozart, sophomore Michael Cummings, freshman T.J. Millweard, freshman Jordan Darling, and junior Blake Jablonski all return next year. Bell's chances in a quarterback battle against any of them would seem to be good.

NEBRASKA

The connection: Nebraska coach Bo Pelini recruited Bell heavily before he committed to the Sooners, and Bell told Rivals.com the Huskers were at the top of his list after visiting the school's junior day in February 2009. Then-offensive coordinator Shawn Watson is now at Louisville and Pelini's seat seemed hot after last week's loss to Iowa, but all indications are now that Pelini will be back in Lincoln next season.

Why it could work: The Cornhuskers lose senior quarterback Taylor Martinez to graduation, and Ron Kellogg III — who has played lots this season while Martinez battled injuries — is also a senior. If Bell were to choose Nebraska and quickly pick up its system, he could provide an immediate boost to Pelini's hopes of keeping his job beyond 2014.

QBs returning in 2014: Redshirt freshman Tommy Armstrong Jr. has started seven games this year, but has completed just 53 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. Sophomore Tyson Broekemeier, redshirt freshman Ryker Fyfe, redshirt freshman Evan Williams and true freshman Johnny Stanton all return next season as well.

TULSA

The connection: There isn't much of a connection readily apparent, though Tulsa is roughly a 2 1/2-hour drive from Wichita. Bell made his first career start against the Golden Hurricane in September and completed 27 of 37 attempts for 413 yards and four touchdowns.

Why it could work: Tulsa finished the 2013 season with a 3-9 record, the program's worst in more than a decade. Senior Cody Green was hurt much of this season, allowing redshirt freshman Dane Evans to start five games. Evans wasn't effective, though, completing just 43 percent of his pass attempts with four touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Bell would step onto campus and immediately give the Hurricane a major upgrade at the position. Tulsa is moving into the tougher American Athletic Conference (formerly the Big East) next season.

QBs returning in 2014: Evans, sophomore Joseph Calcagni, sophomore Brad Valentino, freshman Jaylen Lowe and freshman Ryan Rubley are all back next year.

 

Source

[huskered17]

Kansas would be perfect for him. GBR!!!

[JoeHuskers!]

Interesting.... not saying we need him.... but I probably wouldn't turn him down if he wanted to come here

[PaulCrewe]

No

[Blackshirts007]

Sounds like the Sam Keller story all over again

[beanman]

Why would we want him? He's way worse than anything we've had.

[zoogs]

We could use depth and experience next year, bad. I don't see this happening though as he was recruited under Watson.

[Abdullah the Butcher]

I'd be all for it, give the youth another year to mature. Bell would be an upgrade over Armstrong at this point.

[PaulCrewe]

I'd be all for it, give the youth another year to mature. Bell would be an upgrade over Armstrong at this point.

Have you seen bell attempt to throw these days. There is a reason he's benched now. He ain't a qb

[Abdullah the Butcher]

Ya and he's an upgrade over Armstrong at this point. He completed about 7% more passes and they run about the same.

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

No

This. He's not a good QB.

[NUance]

On the season 130/217 for 60% completions, 11 TDs and 5 picks. He looks like a world beater in these Tulsa highlights. Apparently not so much later in the schedule. Since we lose RK3 maybe Bell would be a good fit. Maybe--I'd want to see some of the games where he struggled in passing. But in the Tulsa video he looks to be a much better passer than Tommy.

[husker_rob]

There are more stories like Sam Keller than Russell Wilson.

 

It wouldn't do anything but interrupt us at this point.

 

Seems like Tulsa would be a better fit for his play style than Kansas. Although, I must admit, I haven't watched any Kansas this year, so maybe that statement isn't true. Just judging on their coach's preferred offensive philosophy.

 

Either way, I hope we have better young talent to develop.

[Warrior10]

Pass....

[Nuke LaLoosh]

Why would we want him? He's way worse than anything we've had.

 

Gonna have to agree with Beanman. It would be a set back. He doesn't have the skill set that we need. Unless it near the goal line...then maybe. But why bury Stanton and T.A. on the depth chart just to bring in someone who has less talent. Jmo.