LINCOLN — Antonio Bell, with his helmet strapped on tightly, made sure he didn't stray too far away from his receivers coach on the Nebraska sideline Saturday night.

Bell wanted to be ready. He didn't want Ted Gilmore wasting time as he looked around for a substitute.

Bell certainly waited a while. The season opener against Florida Atlantic was nearly over before Gilmore finally looked Bell's way. But the true freshman was standing there, still eagerly anticipating his first snaps as a Husker receiver.

“I was right by Coach the whole time,” he said. “I was ready to go. I got a chance late, but I'm still happy to have that chance.”

Bell didn't make a reception during his fourth-quarter debut. Actually, he sort of helped tackle teammate Cody Green when the freshman quarterback cut back toward the middle of the field near the end of his 49-yard run.

At this time last year, Bell had doubts about being able to step on the field as a Husker. So running a few routes, throwing some blocks and even tripping over a defender into Green feels good to Bell, even if it all occurred during the final stages of a 49-3 blowout, he said.

“It felt great,” he said. “I was happy to be out just running around, trying to make some plays, make some blocks. I want to do whatever I can.”

Bell, from Daytona Beach, Fla., was supposed to join the Huskers last fall, but he failed to meet NCAA academic standards. So he took an online course during the summer, another from home in the fall and retook the ACT.

“It was hard,” he said. “I prayed about it. My dad prayed. I tried to stay focused, tried to stay humble. ... I had to keep pushing, keep going.”

When Bell enrolled in January, he didn't take anything for granted.

The NU coaches joked with him during those first few months, telling Bell that he was around so much that he deserved his own office.

Bell didn't need one, though. It was almost tourist-like, the way he'd stroll around the athletic complex.

“I was just so happy to be here,” he said. “I spent my time just sitting around looking at everything. I'd just walk around. I'd go to the gym. I'd go everywhere.”

Then, Bell started practicing with the team, instantly grabbing the attention of his teammates and coaches by running by everyone. He's fast, junior Niles Paul said.

But the 6-foot-2, 180-pound receiver knows that speed isn't enough to earn playing time. He'll be spending a lot of time next to Gilmore if he doesn't become more of an all-around receiver.

Gilmore's list of grievances is seemingly endless. Bell has heard that he needs to consistently haul in the catchable passes. He needs to be a more aggressive blocker. His route running could improve too.

“The coaches, they want to see me more than just a speed guy,” Bell said. “They want me to be a complete receiver so I just don't go downfield. I have to block and make plays even when the ball isn't coming to me.”

Contact the writer:

402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com

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