Skyler Bell just put the finishing touch on one of the most electric seasons we’ve ever seen from a UConn football player - and now he’s got the hardware to prove it.
On Monday, Bell made history by becoming the first UConn player ever named a First Team All-American by the Associated Press. That’s not just a personal milestone - it’s a program-defining moment. The AP honor, voted on by a national panel of 52 experts, comes after a season that can only be described as one of the best by any receiver in Huskies history.
Let’s break down the numbers, because they’re eye-popping.
Bell hauled in 101 receptions, a new single-season record at UConn. He also set the school mark for receiving touchdowns in a season with 13, and piled up 1,278 receiving yards - the second-highest total ever by a Husky.
He averaged 12.7 yards per catch and 106.5 yards per game, and across the national landscape, Bell wasn’t just good - he was elite. He ranked second in the country in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, catches per game, and yards per game.
And no one in the nation had more 100-yard receiving games than Bell’s seven.
This wasn’t just a breakout year - it was a season-long highlight reel.
Bell, a Bronx native and product of The Taft School in Watertown, also earned Second Team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation on Friday. That puts him in rare air.
He’s just the fifth wide receiver in UConn history to earn All-America recognition, joining names like Carl Bond (1997), Mark Didio (1990 & 1991), Glen Antrum (1988), and Reggie Eccleston (1980). In total, only 18 UConn players have ever earned first or second-team All-American honors, dating back to 1955 - and Bell’s name now sits firmly among them.
But the accolades don’t stop there.
He was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the top receiver in college football - a testament to the respect he earned on the national stage. And he’s not done playing football just yet.
Bell has accepted invitations to both the Panini Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl, two of the most prestigious showcases for NFL hopefuls. He’s the first UConn skill position player to be invited to the Senior Bowl since Dan Orlovsky in 2005, and only the 19th player in program history to get the nod.
As for his NFL future? Bell is already drawing serious attention. Pro Football Focus ranks him 12th among wide receivers in their draft rankings, and he’s tracking to be the first UConn skill player drafted since Geremy Davis in 2015.
One note: Bell is reportedly not expected to play in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 27 against Army. And while fans may be disappointed not to see him suit up one last time, it’s hard to argue with the decision. He’s got bigger stages ahead - and based on what we’ve seen this season, he’s more than ready for them.
Skyler Bell didn’t just rewrite the UConn record books - he raised the bar for what’s possible in Storrs. And now, the next chapter begins.