2007 PRESEASON ALL-SLC 2ND TEAM
2006 ALL-LOUISIANA
A basketball player for NSU's championship program, Bell begins only his third season of competitive football as a bonifide all-star candidate and pro football prospect. "D-Bell" is also perhaps the best leader on the team, and certainly emerged as the leader of the offensive unit quickly last season. He became an instant starter three weeks prior to last year's season opener at Kansas when the coaching staff moved him across the ball from defensive end to offensive tackle due to injuries to other players. Bucking the odds, he had the highest grade among the O-linemen at Kansas and played admirably last year, learning all the while. He is a tough, physical and powerful blocker with outstanding speed for his size, and tremendous competitiveness. After football season, he resumed his basketball career, becoming a key inside force down the stretch to help the Demons win the Southland Conference East Division championship. Bell does plan to play his final season of basketball following the 2007 football season, with graduation looming, and hopes to take a shot at the NFL. It's a remarkable change of course for a product of one of the state's smaller, rural high schools with no football team. In fact, Bell had never worn a football helmet before August 2005. While working out in the weight room following the 2005 SLC Championship basketball season, Bell began to consider trying out for football, and asked for and got head coach Mike McConathy's blessing and Coach Scott Stoker's approval. He began playing defensive end and was targeted for a redshirt season, before a spate of injuries forced him to start against eventual SLC champion Nicholls State. In his first-ever football game, against an option offense, Bell made 11 tackles. This past winter, his season highs in basketball were 8 points and 7 rebounds at Tennessee Tech, and his career bests are 16 points vs. McNeese State in his sophomore year and 12 rebounds vs. Huston-Tillotson as a freshman.
2005: Totaled 11 tackles and one-half tackle for a loss with all 11 stops coming against Nicholls State.
In Basketball at NSU: A member of the Demons' 2004-05 Southland Conference champions, he averaged 12 minutes (of 40) while playing in all 40 games as a sophomore ... shot 48 percent from the field and 64 percent on free throws, and blocked 13 shots and had 20 steals while averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds... had his first collegiate double-double with 12 points, career-high 12 rebounds vs. Hutson Tillotson College ... scored season high 13 points vs. LSU-Shreveport... in his freshman year (2003-04), Bell averaged 4.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, while shooting 50 percent (52-104) and blocking 19 shots... played in all 28 contests as a true freshman, starting the last four games... scored in double figures three times, including a career-best 16 in a 92-81 win over McNeese State
Bell in 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.
Bell's Personal: 23 years old, born 5/3/84 ... full name is Demetrius C. Bell ... son of Gloria Williams ... three siblings, Monisha (20), and twins Chassity (18) and Chauncey Williams (18) ... general studies major and plans to be a coach... nickname is D-Bell.
