Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Wayne Bell's football career at Lenoir-Rhyne places him among a storied group of great running backs who have played for the Bears.  Bell came to Lenoir-Rhyne as a highly-recruited player from Raleigh, N.C.  His impact on the Bears was quick and he rushed for over 200 yards as a freshman.  Bell really emerged as a sophomore and earned all-conference honors after finishing second in the Carolina Conferences in total offense, rushing and scoring.  He led the Bears to a CIAC Title, the first of three straight while he was on the team.  A knee injury suffered early in his junior season jeopardized Bell's career, but he returned with a vengeance as a senior in 1967.  Bell led the Bears to an 8-1 mark and their third straight conference title.  He led the conference in rushing and scoring, was named Co-Back of the Year in the league, and earned a spot on the NAIA All-America squad.  He finished his career with 2,270 yards rushing, good enough for 10th-place in school history at the time.  After being drafted by the Chicago Bears, Bell joined the business world including employment with Spurlock Company.