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Georgia

WR Dillon Bell re-emerges in Georgia's offense in win

Jeremy Johnsonby: Jeremy Johnson10/04/25JeremyO_Johnson
Dillon Bell
Photo by Jeremy Johnson.

Athens, Ga – Dillon Bell would not be silenced on Saturday. The senior was the leading returning receiver coming into the season.

Colbie Young and Zachariah Branch have quickly become the top targets in Georgia’s offense in 2025. Bell came into Saturday with seven catches for 21 yards.

Bell showed up and put up his best game statistically of 2025. He caught four passes for 68 yards. He rushed twice for six yards and two touchdowns.

Bell has had a key role in Georgia’s offense despite the lack of targets.

“He blocks,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart told reporters after the game. “He doesn’t complain when he doesn’t get the ball. We’ve had that play in for him for several weeks, and it hadn’t hit. We’ve had a couple plays, we’ve given him the ball, and it’s not there, and he just gets bottled up. It’s like, those plays work in practice. It’s not like we pick them and say, this play’s really bad in practice, let’s run it in the game. We run that play in practice, it works, and then it doesn’t in the game. It’s disheartening, and sometimes that’s just football.” 

Dillon Bell, the playmaker, showed up Saturday

It reminded many of the role Bell played in 2023, when he was asked to play running back. He had 157 yards rushing with two touchdowns in 2023. He added 107 yards and a score in 2024.

Bell takes pride in being versatile.

“I feel like I’m a versatile football player,” Bell told reporters after the game. “I think it’s best for the team. Whatever the coach needs me at, I’ll definitely be there.”

Bell earned the praise of his quarterback following the game. Gunner Stockton gave Bell some credit for his explosiveness. The two connected on a 33-yard completion on Saturday.

“He was good, he’s explosive and a really good guy,” Stockton said.

Bell’s 33-yard catch is the play Smart went back to post game as the most impressive from Bell on Saturday. Smart also gave more praise for Bell’s character.

“Yeah, so excited for him, probably most proud of the catch he had over on our sideline,” Smart said. “The two other plays were almost walk-ins that were well-blocked. It probably wasn’t about what he did, it was more about what the other 10 people did. But Dillon has been very selfless since he’s been here. He has not had many opportunities this year to touch the ball and make plays, and he has not complained one bit. He continues to work. I appreciate who Dillon Bell is, and I really appreciate all those wideouts, because it’s a good group that has stayed the course, and they understand who they are.”

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