NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Miami OT Markel Bell

Brandon ThornJan 21, 2026

Markel Bell is a towering, light-footed tackle prospect, who maximizes his length to cast a wide net in pass protection and active feet to displace defenders in the run game. Bell's upright style and solid, though not great overall athletic ability, cap his ceiling. However, his size and skill-level signal a high-quality swing tackle with starter upside.

Bell is a 6'9", 346-pound tackle prospect, who entered the Miami program as a 4-star JUCO recruit in the 2024 class. He started two seasons at Holmes Community College in Mississippi before arriving to Miami in 2024. The former Hurricane started 21 games at left tackle in Coral Gables, including 16 in 2025. Bell participated in the 2026 Senior Bowl.

Brandon Thorn: Brandon is the author of the Trench Warfare newsletter, which focuses exclusively on offensive and defensive line evaluation. He also contributes as an analyst to Establish the Run, serves as the scouting coordinator for OL Masterminds and is a selection committee member for the Joe Moore Award.

Where He Wins

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— Fluid mover with good redirect skills for a gargantuan tackle prospect.

— Premier length. Bell has gotten progressively better at weaponizing his length with independent strikes that keep him in-phase against counter-moves.

— Brings his feet with him in the run game to create torque and alleys on frontside kick-outs, down-blocks and double-team feeds.

— Has made significant strides with his technique and been on an upwards trajectory since arriving at Miami.

Areas of Improvement

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 20 College Football Playoff First Round Game Miami at Texas A&M

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— Height and upright playing style make him vulnerable to the forklift technique from defenders working underneath his pads to pry him open, thus negating his size advantage.

— Susceptible to biting on inside-out stutters into high-side rushes, thus giving up short corners.