A 6-foot-9 tackle who rose from junior college to a sackless starting season at Miami, becoming the Eagles' third-round pick in 2026.
Markel Bell's path ran through Holmes Community College before he became Miami's full-time starting left tackle in 2025. At 6-foot-9 and 346 pounds, with arms stretching more than 36 inches, the Cleveland, Mississippi native is the tallest offensive lineman drafted in a decade, and the Eagles took him in the third round to develop behind their veteran line.
Path to the league
Bell starred at Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi in 2022 and 2023, earning All-NJCAA All-Region honors and a ranking as the top junior college offensive tackle prospect in his class. He transferred to Miami in 2024, appearing in 12 games with five starts as a backup before winning the left tackle job outright in 2025.
Career highlights
As Miami's full-time starting left tackle in 2025, Bell didn't allow a sack all season, earned second-team Academic All-American honors and played in the Senior Bowl. His combination of size, 36-3/8-inch arms and an 87-1/8-inch wingspan, made him a standout measurable at the draft's offensive line evaluations.
2025 season recap
Bell's 2025 season at Miami was his breakout as a first-year full-time starter at left tackle, going the entire year without allowing a sack. The Eagles drafted him 68th overall in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, a pick they had acquired from the Jets in the 2024 Haason Reddick trade, and signed him to a four-year rookie contract on June 23, 2026.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Markel Bell
- Philadelphia Eagles: Eagles select T Markel Bell at No. 68 overall
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- Miami
- Hometown
- Cleveland, MS, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
