Roy Bell (Canadian football) explained

Roy Bell
Status:Retired
Import:yes
Birth Date:29 July 1949
Birth Place:Clinton, Oklahoma, U.S.
High School:Clinton (OK)
College:Oklahoma
Position1:Running back
Number:14
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lbs:208
Nfldraftedyear:1972
Nfldraftedround:9
Nfldraftedpick:234
Nfldraftedteam:Dallas Cowboys
Career Highlights:
  • Grey Cup champion (1975)
Cflallstar:,
Cflwestallstar:,
Awards: Eddie James Memorial Trophy
Playing Years1:
Playing Team1:Edmonton Eskimos
Statlabel1:Rushing yards
Statvalue1:4,667 (Avg: 4.9 yards; TDs: 18)
Statlabel2:Longest Run
Statvalue2:76
Statlabel3:Receiving yards
Statvalue3:1,049 (Avg: 9.8 yards; TDs: 3)
Statlabel4:Kickoff Returns
Statvalue4:32 (Avg: 21.3 yards; TDs: 0)
Statlabel5:Fumbles
Statvalue5:17

Roy Bell (born July 29, 1949) is a former American football running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Edmonton Eskimos. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma.

Early years

Belle attended Clinton High School, where he played as a running back.[1] In 1965, along with his brother Carlos, he helped the school win its first football state championship.

In 1967, he was a part of an undefeated team that won the football state championship and that one national publication called the best high school team in the country that season.[2] He finished with more than 6,000 rushing yards, leading the state in his last 2 years in rusing and scoring. He only lost one game during his three-year varsity career (13-19 against Wewoka in the 1966 state finals).

College career

Bell accepted a football scholarship from the University of Oklahoma. In 1970, he became part of the school's first wishbone backfield along with Jack Mildren, Greg Pruitt and Leon Crosswhite.[3]

As a senior, he recorded 87 carries for 625 yards (fourth on the team) and 9 touchdowns (third on the team). He finished his college career with 50 carries for 1,421 yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 16 receptions for 225 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

Professional career

Bell was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the ninth round (234th overall) of the 1972 NFL draft, but opted not sign with the team.

On May 12, 1972, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. As a rookie, he posted 690 yards and 2 touchdowns in 10 games.

The next year, he led the West division with 1,455 rushing yards and was named an All-Canadian. In 1974, he had 286 carries for 1,341 yards and 4 touchdowns.

In 1975, he tallied 232 carries for 1,006 yards and was a part of the Grey Cup winning team. The next year, he only played in 6 games, collecting 50 carries for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns. In 1977, he was replaced with Jim Germany.

Bell finished his career with 962 carries, 4,667 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 107 receptions, 1,049 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns and was a two-time CFL All-Star.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ROY BELL IS CLINTON'S CITIZEN OF YEAR. February 24, 2023.
  2. Web site: Clinton honors 1967 team that was proclaimed high school national champions. February 24, 2023.
  3. Web site: Collected wisdom: Former Oklahoma running back Roy Bell. February 24, 2023.