Mike Bell (football player)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mike Bell
Date of birth	April 23, 1983 (age 23)
Place of birth	Phoenix, Arizona
Position(s)	Running back
College	Arizona
Statistics	CBS.com
Team(s)
2006-Present	Denver Broncos

For others with similar names, see Mike Bell (Disambiguation).

Michael Steven Bell (born April 23, 1983 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the NFL.

1 High School Career
2 College career
3 Professional career
4 References

[edit] High School Career

Bell played for Tolleson Union High School, where he both became the second player in Arizona history to have rushed for over 2,000 yards in back to back seasons, as well as obtaining the second-highest career total of 4,692 yards rushing in Arizona. He was named Player of the Year in his senior year by The Arizona Republic.[1]

[edit] College career

In college, Bell played football for the University of Arizona, where he rushed for 3,163 yards and 17 touchdowns in four years, three as the starter. In his senior year, he rushed for 153 yards in sixteen attempts in a surprising 52-14 rout of the then-undefeated UCLA Bruins. Bell is third all time in the college's history in rushing yards.

[edit] Professional career

Bell entered the 2006 NFL Draft, but went undrafted. He was signed as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2006 by the Denver Broncos. He had a very strong training camp, and before the Broncos first preseason game, Bell was promoted to the starting tailback position. This promotion shocked many, as it was presumed that either Tatum Bell or Ron Dayne would win the Broncos' starting job. However Tatum Bell ended up as the starter for the first reagular season game, with Mike Bell also getting carries in a backup role.

During week 8 of the 2006 season in which the Denver Broncos played the undefeated Indianpolis Colts, Tatum Bell was taken out with a broken toe. Mike Bell was put in and ran for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns in just 1 half, averaging 9 yards a carry. He started week 9 against the Steelers not fulfilling his expected amount of yards and touchdowns. Only making 28 yards on 17 attempts. He was made inactive by Coach Shanahan in week 10 against the Raiders. Although being signed as an undrafted free agent, Bell led the Broncos with eight rushing scores.