Tough test
As a sixth-year senior, Maurice Bell is one of the oldest players on the Colorado football team.
He is, however, fighting once again to make a name for himself in CU’S talented receiver room.
During a scrimmage on Saturday at Folsom Field, Bell was one of the more impressive players on offense and proved he is fully healthy from the torn Achilles’ tendon that cost him the entire 2021 season.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” CU head coach Karl Dorrell said. “He’s back to his old self and actually looks better to me than he was before his injury. I’m really proud of him for what he’s come back to and what he is now and we’re hoping he continues that.”
Bell, from Murrieta, Calif., played in only three games during his first two seasons at CU (2017-18) and caught only two passes for six yards in 2019.
In 2020, Bell earned a bigger role, finishing with 10 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in the pandemic-shortened season. He also ranked sixth in the Pac-12 with a 21.57-yard average on kickoff returns.
Bell is hoping to have an even bigger role this year as he’s battled back from a devastating injury.
“Usually you do lose a step or two (after an Achilles’ injury), or you’re not as fast as you were prior to the injury, things like that,” Dorrell said.
“But lately, if you do the rehab correctly and really stay up on doing everything, you can get back to close to 100% and that’s where I think Maurice is.
I’ve been very encouraged. Plus, physically he looks better. He’s more developed. He’s put a lot of work in the weight room, too.”
CU closed the scrimmage with a fourth-and-goal drill. The situation was the offense trailing in the closing seconds and needing a touchdown to win. Dorrell gave three different offensive units one play to score from the 1-yard line.