Look For A Bounce-Back Season For Georgia Wide Receiver Dillon Bell
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ATHENS - After an excellent 2023 season, Georgia Bulldog wideout Dillon Bell had an inconsistent year last fall catching the football.
Well, so did the rest of Georgia’s receivers.
His numbers may not show it, but Dillon Bell didn’t to take a step forward in year three. Now he’s seen Kirby Smart and James Coley bring in two of the best wide receivers available from the transfer portal.
As a veteran there’s no way that’s sitting well with him. This is a money year for Bell and now he has major competition for targets next season.
It’s redemption time and the chip on his shoulder has to be massive.
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It’s not that Bell had a “bad” year in 2024, but it wasn’t the year most expected from him. However, he did reel in 43 passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns. Respectable numbers, but numbers that may need to increase next season if Georgia’s offense wants to take a big step forward.
Unfortunately for Bell, Georgia fans won’t remember the numbers. They’ll remember the drops, and there plenty of them. They’ll remember his biggest drop the most as he misplayed a perfect Gunner Stockton deep ball that hit him right in the hands against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. It should’ve been a touchdown. Instead, it was the season in a nutshell.
What Bell does best isn’t securing the football. It’s what he can do before the catch and what he can do after it. Bell has always been an above-average route runner who can get open on his own. He’s also tough to corral once he has the ball. He runs like a running back and has shown he can be a major weapon when he’s simply handed the football.
Bell ran for 157 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns in 2023, adding a touchdown pass against Tennessee in Knoxville. But last year, he only carried the ball nine times for 107 yards and one touchdown. That’s something that may need to change next fall. He had 27-yard run against Clemson, a 33-yard run against the Gators and an 18-yard run against Auburn. He’s a good athlete and a true weapon when given an opportunity to make plays with ball.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart knows there’s a lot that Bell brings to the table.
"He adds toughness, experience, quickness”, Smart said about Bell last fall. “He's got body quickness and the ability to win one-on-ones.”
That experience and toughness will be key for Georgia’s offense next fall. The plays will be there to be made. Bell just has to make them.