30 key Miami Hurricanes for 2025 season: Tackle Markel Bell adds experience to size
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 31 with a marquee matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).
With the calendar officially flipped to August, the Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season.
Today: The No. 13 player on our list, Markel Bell.
What to know
Position: Offensive lineman
Hometown: Cleveland, Mississippi
Year: Senior
How he got to Miami: 2024 transfer (Holmes Community College)
Key stats: 13 games (5 starts) at Miami in 2024
In summary: Markel Bell, who stands out for his size at 6-9, received early playing time last season out of necessity. With starting left tackle Jalen Rivers sidelined by an injury in the season opener against Florida, Bell started five consecutive games and gained valuable experience. When Rivers returned, the Hurricanes made sure Bell still got playing time. While Rivers was the primary left tackle, he occasionally kicked inside at left guard so that Bell would still get critical experience. Now, he is Miami’s full-time starting left tackle in his second and final season. He looks much more natural at the position and is using his size to his advantage.
What they’re saying
“I just knew since I was trading places with Jalen Rivers every other drive [last season] that coming into this year, I had to play a full game and so the first thing I wanted to attack was my conditioning. I had to get in game shape, good enough shape … to play a full game and play at an elite level.” - Markel Bell on what he worked on in the offseason
“It’s been a long journey, just leading up to this point. I still have more work to do, but I think the biggest piece of advice I can give somebody … coming in either from [junior college] or high school, just take one day at a time. You’re not going to be perfect. You’re not going to be a Hall of Famer in one day. You’re going to be behind but take it one day at a time and you’re going to find yourself surpassing people.” - Markel Bell on his path from playing at the JUCO level to becoming a starter at Miami
“Markel Bell is no longer 6-9 to anybody now; he’s just a good football player. Now, people don’t ask him, ‘Hey, do you play basketball?’ Now, it’s ‘Man, this kid’s pretty good.’ He’s worked himself and prepared himself into being the player that he is.” - offensive line coach Alex Mirabal on Markel Bell
The rest of the series
No. 14: Defensive back Xavier Lucas
No. 15: Defensive lineman Justin Scott
No. 16: Wide receiver CJ Daniels
No. 17: Defensive lineman David Blay
No. 18: Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten
No. 19: Center James Brockermeyer
No. 20: Wide receiver Keelan Marion
No. 21: Defensive back Jakobe Thomas
No. 23: Defensive back Keionte Scott
No. 24: Running back Jordan Lyle
No. 25: Defensive back Damari Brown
No. 26: Defensive lineman Armondo Blount
No. 27: Wide receiver Malachi Toney
No. 28: Defensive back Ethan O’Connor
No. 29: Linebacker Kamal Bonner
No. 30: Running back CharMar Brown
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