When Markel Bell was in elementary school, he remembers watching the gifted kids get pulled out of class. “I used to get jealous,” the University of Miami offensive lineman said. “I was left in the classroom with the ‘regular’ students.” That early frustration turned into motivation that made him successful throughout his academic career.
In December, Bell graduated with a 3.78 GPA as an American studies major from the College of Arts and Sciences. Earlier this year, he was named a CSC Academic All-American on the Second Team.
“It’s definitely a blessing to make my mom proud,” he said. “Knowing that she sent me up here to gain an education and I did just that at the highest level means a lot to me.”
Bell wasn’t the only Hurricane football player honored for his academic and athletic achievements shortly after making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Offensive lineman James Brockermeyer was named to the Academic All-American First Team with a 4.0 GPA as a post-baccalaureate undergraduate exploratory arts and sciences major at the college. Graduate student and defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor also made the First Team, posting a 3.71 GPA in the college’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program. Mark Fletcher Jr., a running back and sport administration major in the School of Education and Human Development, received Second Team recognition. Brockermeyer, Mesidor, and Bell are currently training for the NFL Draft.
The honors, announced by College Sports Communicators, recognize student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.5 GPA while making significant contributions to their teams. For Bell, that meant balancing Division I football with a full academic load, all while leading his team to the College Football Playoff.
When Bell transferred to the University from Holmes Community College in Mississippi in 2024, he had to adjust quickly. A new program, a new city, and tough classes. Staying consistent was the hardest part.
“I found that I could get fatigued from either football or academics and that it could affect the other, so I just had to really focus on maintaining and balancing the load,” he said.
His solution was simple: school came first. “I made sure my schoolwork was the first thing I knocked out so I could focus on football,” he said. Bell had realized how closely academics and athletics were tied together while he was in high school. “Without academics, my football talents mean nothing,” he added.
Now, as he prepares for the next level, Bell hopes younger players are watching. “The advice I’d give younger student-athletes is simple: time management is key. Be honest about who and what you’re giving your energy to and prioritize what truly matters. Everything else falls into place.”
Bell said he hopes the discipline he developed as a student-athlete will help him succeed as a professional football player.
“Being disciplined in the classroom and on the field definitely has some overlap, and it carries over in life as well,” he said. “Being dedicated and being able to focus on the task at hand is wonderful for me because it will carry over to my new team in the NFL.”
