From Browning to The NFL: 62nd Street’s Own Skyler Bell
Bell ‘21 dawns his new threads. Credit: AP
This past April, Browning’s first(and only) Division 1 Athlete, Skyler Bell ‘21, saw his name called by the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills. The culmination of a 4 year career split across spells at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Connecticut, Bell was the 21st Wide Receiver selected. He closed his collegiate career with a stunning season which saw the wideout earn the honor of becoming a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s best receiver on a yearly basis. Bell would go on to record 100+ catches, 1000+ yards, and 13 Touchdowns total, breaking various Connecticut records in the process. This breakout year would earn the attention of teams league wide, with the Bills ultimately deciding to pair the Panther with phenom quarterback Josh Allen, renewing a push for Buffalo’s first Lombardi Trophy, now having the billion dollar Highmark Stadium to call home.
In an earlier interview with now Browning-Alum Collin M. ‘25, Bell remarked upon how Browning “helped develop [his] fundamental athletic ability, more so the basics so that [he] could build off of it when [he] got older”. When asked about being Browning’s inaugural Division 1 Athlete, Bell remarked “I actually didn’t know that I was, but now that I know that’s a big honor. I love Browning and the people I met from it. With that being said I know now that I have to uphold that and set the bar for the younger generation”.
The 125th pick has already been hailed by many as one of the Draft’s steals, projected as a Day 1 starter and key contributor to the Bills AFC campaign. Ben Staker of Yahoo Sports noted that “There’s plenty to be excited about in Buffalo next season, and Skyler Bell is a big proponent of that.”.
Bell has entirely redefined what it means to be a Browning Athlete, adding his name to the limited list of Professional Panthers whilst becoming the first to venture into the domain of Football.One thing is sure: As Bell ‘21 embarks on his NFL career, he’ll have the whole of 62nd and 64th Street cheering him on.
