Photo courtesy: Kennesaw State
Photo courtesy: Kennesaw State

NFL Draft: Bears select DT Travis Bell in seventh round


by - Senior Editor -

The Chicago Bears selected Kennesaw State defensive tackle Travis Bell with the No. 218 overall pick in the 7th round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday.

Bell is the first-ever NFL Draft pick from Kennesaw State and the Bears' first draft choice from a non-Power 5 program in 2023.

"Tough, explosive, physical player that is relentless on the field," Kennesaw State's defensive line coach Liam Klein said to reporter Daniel Greenberg. "A great player and our leader for the last few years."

In 2022, he had 34 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 5.5 tackles for loss in 11 games.

"I'm self-driven," Bell told the media Saturday. "I'm a nasty guy. The work ethic is through the roof. I got a motor. Ya'll should expect to see me running sideline to sideline."

For his career, he had 24.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 54 games. He put up 30 bench press reps at his school's pro day.

This is the third defensive tackle that the Bears have picked in this draft class, along with Florida's Gervon Dexter Sr. and South Carolina's Zacch Pickens.

The Bears have one final pick in this draft at pick No. 258.

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