Former Panther Commits to Big Ten Football Team

Skyler Bell poses for photo during contract signing with the Wisconsin Badgers at Gauchos Gym, New York. (@ShotsbyToby_)

Former Browning athlete, Skyler Bell ’21, has committed to play collegiate football for the Wisconsin Badgers in fall 2021, making him the first-ever alum to receive a D1 scholarship from the NCAA.

“From the first time I entered the weight room to the first time I ever put on my pads, I knew football was going to be a part of my life forever,” Bell said.

Bell’s passion for sports blossomed at a young age, conditioning at his father’s gym and playing basketball for the Bronx community team, the New York Gauchos. However, becoming a professional athlete was his ultimate goal. Watching national champions all across the world share their remarkable story, he was motivated to focus heavily on his athletic capabilities. 

 “From 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. workouts, I always find a way to put in the work,” he said. “Conditioning with my father at his gym, finding ways to increase my stamina, and running drills to improve my technique and mental game, all played part in my day to day routine.”

For Bell, attending a New York City private school limited his opportunity to play the sports of his choice. Since most NYC private institutions do not have certain facilities on their campuses or too few students play certain sports like football, Bell couldn’t compete at an higher level. Regardless, his athletic prowess and versatility still shined.

“Browning was a place where I built strong relationships with friends, teachers, and coaches as well as developed a passion for playing sports,” Bell said. But, Browning was not the place to reach his ultimate goal.

Skyler Bell takes flight on a contested catch against their rivals, The Brunswick School. (Rob Falcetti)

The Taft School in Watertown, CT, is where Bell continued his love and passion for playing football, training relentlessly everyday to acquire that starting wide receiver role on the varsity team. Even though his playing time was substantial, Bell was eager to finish his sophomore and junior year on an even higher note to receive D1 scholarships from the universities of his choice. In just eight games in 2019, Bell fulfilled his goal, catching over 30 receptions, receiving for 549 yards, and almost scoring double digit touchdowns, while playing positions both on offense and defense.

“The whole process is stressful, especially in a year like this. With the current racial issues in America and the global pandemic, I am not going to lie, it was difficult to focus on making a decision on where to play football,” Bell said. “However, Wisconsin immediately stood out to me as my favorite school, not only because of the athletic opportunities they offered, but also the ways the coaches and teachers handled the pandemic.”

When sports were put on hold at the height of the pandemic, athletes like Bell had no access to gyms and no way of practicing with teammates. Conditioning, building chemistry, and keeping a strong mentality all played a crucial role for Bell to succeed, and he understood that in order to keep his spot on the Wisconsin team, he would have to persevere through hardships everyday. 

“I definitely would not have done any of this without my friends and family.” Bell said. “My father is someone who I thank the most. Our relationship is more than just a parent-to-son dynamic duo. He is my trainer, someone who knows my body and work ethic more than anyone else.”

To Bell, his father is more than just a mentor. He is not only someone who Bell strives to be, but someone who is also his best friend. Bell wouldn’t know where he would be without him.