Massive JUCO OT Markel Bell has arrived in Auburn for official visit

Junior college offensive tackle Markel Bell has arrived in Auburn for an official visit to Auburn football, Auburn Live has learned.

Bell, who is attending Holmes Community College in Mississippi, made it to the Plains early Thursday morning and immediately began touring the campus and facilities.

It was one of the main reasons for coming on the visit.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said before the visit. “I want to see the campus and facilities and meet more with the coaches.”

He’ll get plenty of time with the coaches, including coach Hugh Freeze and offensive line coach Jake Thornton. The two have offered Bell, but on one condition.

“They want me to enroll (for the summer),” Bell said in an earlier interview with Auburn Live.

And he’s obviously considering it. He wouldn’t be on campus now if he wasn’t.

“It’s definitely a possibility,” he said. “I’m finishing up my last semester, and I’m a qualifier so I can come out (of junior college) this summer. I was going to decide in July, but Auburn is talking about me coming in (May).”

Auburn offered Bell in late April

Bell arriving for an official visit comes less than two weeks after the Tigers offered him.

“Coach Freeze called and told me about the offer,” Bell said. “He told me he’s interested in me. He told me that I have some work to do, but that it’s normal. I also talked to Coach Thornton. I’d been talking to Coach Thornton on various occasions.

“I wasn’t really surprised they offered. I knew it was a matter of time. It feels good to have another D-I offer, but especially good coming from Auburn.”

Auburn team to beat for Bell?

Bell has offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss, among others. Auburn, he said, is the team to beat.

“They are No. 1 on my list right now,” he said. “I’ve been watching them on T.V. and I know a couple of players like Jarquez (Hunter). I’m very familiar with him.”

As a freshman in 2022, Bell was named honorable mention All-MACCC North Division Team. He attended high school at Cleveland Central High in Cleveland, Miss.

Should he choose Auburn, Bell would help shore up some depth concerns along the offensive front for Auburn. The Tigers are in need of some younger depth at offensive tackle. Bell, although somewhat inexperienced, would give the Tigers another big bodied athletic tackle.

He isn’t expected to wait long after his visit before making a decision.

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