Buffs WR Bell Has Big Day In Scrimmage

BOULDER — There's something about Folsom Field that brings out the best in Colorado wide receiver Maurice Bell.

The CU sophomore had an outstanding scrimmage Saturday morning on the Buffs' home field, finishing with six catches that included three touchdowns, along with a spectacular one-handed grab on the sidelines.

"Every time we scrimmage, Maurice Bell shows up," head coach Mel Tucker said. "He looked explosive today."

The last time the Buffs had a scrimmage setting in Folsom, Bell also had an outstanding day, hauling in six catches for 129 yards and a score in CU's April spring game.

"It's Folsom magic," Bell said with a grin after Saturday's scrimmage, CU's second of fall camp. "It's where we play our games, so every time you're in Folsom, you want to act like it's a game, act like the stadium is packed. You want to come out and play your best game."

But Saturday's scrimmage wasn't an aberration. In a wide receiver group packed with talent, Bell has had a solid, consistent fall camp, making plays on a regular basis. Saturday, he played with the No. 1 and No. 2 units and made the most of his multiple repetitions.

"I definitely feel like I had a good day," Bell said. "I mentally prepared myself the night before. All camp, honestly, just coming out every day and telling myself I have to elevate every single day and dominate. Today really kind of paid off."

It has been enough that wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini told Bell that he has earned some playing time when the season kicks off Aug. 30 against Colorado State.

"I told him in the meetings, 'You've earned the right to play here,'" Chiaverini said. "I'll have no problem putting him in games and counting on him to make plays."

Bell, from Murieta, Calif., redshirted in 2017, his first year with the Buffs, then made just a handful of appearances last year, playing in three games but not recording a catch.

But he made a jump in spring ball and has taken his game up another notch thus far in training camp. He has not only shown an ability to make big catches, but he is also explosive after the catch.

"He's probably been the most improved guy since he's been here," Chiaverini said. "You just continue to see him get better and better. Obviously he's been explosive. He was explosive in the spring game, he's explosive in the scrimmages and he's earned the right to play on Saturdays."

Bell said he put in extra time over the summer working on his receiving skills, then his moves after the catch.

"Coming from spring ball going into the summer and then fall camp, I knew I wanted to make more electric plays after I got the ball in my hands," he said. "After spring ball I was making 100 catches a day so I could know that when the ball was coming to me, it would be muscle memory. I don't have to worry about catching it."

Still, Bell knows he is competing for playing time in what is the deepest, most-talented position group on the team. It includes last season's three leading receivers — Laviska Shenault Jr., K.D. Nixon and Tony Brown — as well as Dimitri Stanley, Daniel Arias and Jaylon Jackson.

"I've been making plays all fall camp, just trying to work," Bell said. "Obviously I know the bigger picture. I want to be on the field. So I know I have to come out here and make the plays."

Chiaverini said he will find a way to get talented players on the field — and a rotation will help keep players fresh and healthy.

"Last year we got banged up and not enough guys were able to step up and play at a high level," Chiaverini said. "If we can have some of those younger guys, those twos, step up and play at a high level, you can rotate guys and have people be fresh in the fourth quarter. With me being back on the sidelines, I can manage substitutions a lot better."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu