Senior offensive tackle Demetrius Bell keeps climbing on the wish lists of NFL teams.
Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage was at Northwestern Tuesday to get a first-hand look, and reportedly will be back on campus with additional Browns personnel in early January.
It's the latest in a steady stream of upper-level NFL personnel trying to get a fix on one of the wild cards of the 2008 NFL Draft. Bell's virtual novice status in football -- he only began playing in 2005 and has two years as an offensive lineman -- and his athleticism, intelligence and toughness has piqued interest.
It seems unlikely that he'll play basketball this winter, as much as he would love doing so, because it appears his dance card will be filled with visits from, and to, NFL teams. Bell was emotional in a postgame radio interview after the season-ending win over Stephen F. Austin, telling Demon Sports Network sideline reporter Britt Brittain how much he owed both head football coach Scott Stoker and Demon basketball coach Mike McConathy.
Coach Mike gave the green light to Bell's football aspirations. Stoker gave Bell unconditional faith in August 2006, three weeks before the season opening game at Kansas, when he sold a very apprehensive Bell on moving from backup defensive end to starting left offensive tackle.
Doug Ireland, SID
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