by derek major
February 1, 2024
Dallas Cowboys second-year safety and Florida A&M product Marquise Bell was named NFL HBCU Player of the Year.
Florida A&M graduate and Dallas Cowboys second-year safety Marquise Bell has been named NFL HBCU Player of the Year.
Bell will be formally recognized at the 25th Anniversary Super Bowl Soulful Celebration on February 10, the day before the Super Bowl.
“I am humbled by the honor and gratitude of being named the NFL HBCU Spotlight Player of the Year for the 2023 season,” Bell told Florida A&M's student newspaper, The Famous. “For the Super Bowl to magnify that and polarize it is monumental.
“It's humiliating to be mentioned in the same sentence as Russell Wilson and Deion Sanders from Prime Time, both of whom have been on this stage,” Bell added.
Bell signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft, making the Cowboys' 53-man roster his rookie season.
But this season was a breakout year for Bell, who moved from safety to linebacker after rookie linebacker Demarvion Overshawn tore his ACL during the preseason. Despite being small at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Bell played his role admirably, making 60 solo tackles, four passes defended, three tackles for loss, and two in 17 games. He helped the team by ranking second on the team with 94 tackles, including a forced fumble. The Cowboys won the NFC East with a record of 12 wins and 5 losses, making the playoffs for the third straight year.
Despite having a breakout season, Bell knows he has to improve for the Cowboys to advance beyond the wild-card round and plans to get back to work this offseason.
“I know I have to work extremely hard this offseason to prepare my body for the rigors of being a professional football player,” Bell said. “I’m very excited to work with my coaches and teammates this offseason to study my craft and add more tools to my tool belt.”
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