100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 55 Days – No. 55, OT Leon Bell
Jeff Lebby’s era of Mississippi State football has arrived.
The Bulldogs are on their third coach in as many years as Mike Leach’s tragic passing opened the door for defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s debut as head coach last year. That experiment failed before the year even ended for State and now it’s Lebby’s turn to take the wheel.
While there is always a risk in hiring first time head coaches, Lebby brings to Starkville an exciting offensive scheme that has been productive everywhere he’s been. The coach has also brought with him some swagger that has the fanbase ready to see what’s next.
Over the course of the next 100 days, we will take a look at Lebby’s roster and even some fun historical rewinds that will bring back memories for Dawg fans of all ages.
Today, we look at an offensive lineman that could have his breakthrough season this year.
100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 55 Days – No. 55, Jr. OT Leon Bell
It was the night before signing day in 2022 when Bell’s life changed.
That’s when a spot opened up for Bell to be a member of an SEC signing class and the Bulldogs were the one ones giving him a chance. Linebackers coach Matt Brock was the coach to recruit Bell and he was one heck of a backup plan for State late in the signing class.
Bell towers at 6’8 and 325 pounds. He’s a native Texan who went completely under the radar as a high school prospect at Dickinson High School and would instead land at Kilgore Community College.
After first being recruited as a defensive lineman, Bell shot up a couple of more inches and would play offensive line for Kilgore. Bell would play in just five games as a freshman but began coming into his own his sophomore season as he would become a First-Team All-Conference member.
Bell grabbed some solid Group of 5 offers like Troy, Florida Atlantic and SMU, but State would be his own Power 5 offer. He would sign with the Bulldogs without much fanfare, but he came in as a Composite No. 4 OT in the country and the No. 15 player overall.
Though he redshirted in year one, Bell flashed at times at right tackle. He played in the first four games of the season and looked the part of a player to watch on the line. In the offseason, that hype has only grown. Bell is expected to compete for the starting spot at right tackle in training came after having a solid spring and he could lock down the spot in the first few weeks.
