Is Kenny Bell Rising to Day 2 Pick in 2015 NFL Draft?

Count Nebraska's Kenny Bell as another lost name in what seems like a never-ending pool of potential impact receivers in the 2015 NFL draft. 

The incoming class at receiver is undeniably loaded, with Amari Cooper, Kevin White and DeVante Parker dominating the spotlight as surefire top picks and another dozen or so receivers capable of cracking the first three rounds. 

Bell should still have a legitimate shot to join the group as a Day 2 pick. 

In a league dominated by measurables and the vertical passing game, Bell possesses real value—even if he continues to be an afterthought among the ridiculous depth at the position.

According to Ross Jones of Fox Sports, Bell is scheduled to visit with the Indianapolis Colts this week. It is his first reported workout, although there's a very real possibility he's taken other unreported visits during the predraft process. 

Maybe the NFL is attempting to keep him a secret. There's certainly plenty to like in a receiver that is flying so far under the radar. 

Bell should have opened a few eyes during the NFL Scouting Combine back in February. 

The 6'1", 197-pound Bell tested out as one of the most athletic receivers in Indianapolis, posting top numbers in many of the workouts NFL teams put serious stock in at the position. 

After running the 40-yard dash in a very respectable 4.42 seconds, Bell finished third among receivers in the vertical jump (41.5") and three-cone drill (6.66 seconds) and fourth in the broad jump (10'9"). The numbers suggest an explosive vertical threat with the lower-body power to make contested catches in the air and the short-area quickness to make defenders miss after the catch. 

"The draft seems to be a lot about measurables: height, weight, size and speed," Nebraska receiver coach Rich Fisher told Fox Sports. "But I would take Kenny Bell over any of those guys. He can run by you, but he can also block you at the point of attack on the perimeter. That's a tough combination, especially when it comes to play action."

There's little question that Bell has the potential to be an asset in the vertical passing game at the next level. 

Despite playing in an offense dominated by the run and captained by shaky quarterback play, Bell still managed to average almost 15 yards per reception over four years at Nebraska. As a senior, he caught four passes over 40 yards and hauled in six touchdowns. His sophomore season featured nine games with at least one catch of 30 or more yards, and all eight of his touchdowns were from at least 25 yards out. 

Bell now leaves Nebraska as the school's all-time leader in receptions (181) and receiving yards (2,689). 

Draft analysts love his ability to stretch the field. 

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network tweeted that Bell has "another gear" down the field, while describing him as a "great stretch option" and a possible third-round selection:

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports called Bell "quick-footed," with "the route speed to stack corners vertically with an extra gear downfield."

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com viewed him similarly. 

"Can get on top of cornerbacks quickly and can ramp up acceleration to create enough air space for quarterbacks to target him up top," Zierlein wrote in his draft profile. "Has made big catches at big times for Nebraska. Displays concentration and boundary awareness up the field."

Zierlein noted that Bell has "big-play ability" that went "untapped" while at Nebraska, likely because of scheme and quarterback play. The Huskers ran on over 60 percent of their offensive snaps last season, while sophomore Tommy Armstrong Jr. was one of the least-efficient quarterbacks in the Big Ten. 

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

The hope would be that once in the NFL, Bell's top measurables will be put to better use inside a more modern offense and with a more qualified quarterback throwing him the football. 

However, Bell's production at Nebraska was probably underrated. 

He became the first player in school history to lead the team in receptions for four straight years. Bell cracked 30 receptions every season (a first at Nebraska) while also leading the Huskers in receiving yards each year. 

His senior season was noteworthy, especially when stacked against his peers. 

While his volume numbers were nowhere near the top of his class, Bell performed at an elite level when provided the opportunity. 

	Rec	Yards	Avg.	TD
2011	32	461	14.4	3
2012	50	863	17.3	8
2013	52	577	11.1	4
2014	47	788	16.8	6
Totals	181	2689	14.9	21

According to Pro Football Focus, Bell finished the 2014 season ranked ninth in yards per route run, a signature stat for the site that provides context to receiving numbers. He averaged 2.95 yards over his 265 routes ran, which was better than big names such as White and Nelson Agholor. 

PFF's yards per route run stat is important because it shows production based on opportunity. Playing in a run-based offense, Bell received fewer chances than other receivers in the class. However, when Nebraska did throw, he produced—and at a level consistent with or better than many of the stars of the group. 

Even if Bell needs time to adjust to the NFL game, he should be able to provide immediate value on special teams. While at Nebraska, Bell returned 51 kicks—averaging 25.0 yards per return with one touchdown (99 yards versus Penn State). Special teams run in his blood. His father, Ken Bell, totaled over 2,000 kick return yards in the NFL as a member of the Denver Broncos. 

Fuse the explosive combine numbers, underrated production in a simple offense and special teams ability, and it wouldn't be surprising if Bell came off the board much higher than many are expecting. 

The receiver class is loaded. Potential NFL stars might be found in every round. Not many are talking about Bell's opportunity, but all it takes is for one team to fall in love with one of the draft's more overlooked receivers. 

Zach Kruse covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2