VERMILLION – Entering Saturday’s college football game between South Dakota and Indiana State, Carter Bell was just a few plays away from re-writing the USD history books in a second straight game, and it didn’t take very long to do so.
After two short catches early in the first quarter, Bell sat just 12 yards away from the all-time USD receiving yards record. The former record, held by Rod Tweet (2,557), stood since 1985 with nobody matching his historical number since. That was until Bell caught a short pass at the 2:23 mark of the first quarter.
He managed to gain a step on his defender following the catch and took it 43 yards downfield to write his name into Coyote lore for the foreseeable future.
“It’s awesome, it’s a great accomplishment,” Bell said. “There are some really good names on that list and I’m blessed to be in the position I am. But at the same time, I’m just here to win. We’ve got our goals ahead of us and I’m going to do whatever I can for this team.”
But as big as the record-setting catch was, it was just one reception in what ended up being a big day for the sixth-year receiver against the Sycamores.
Bell finished the day with a season-high 115 receiving yards, his first game this season in which he eclipsed the century mark, and he caught his first receiving touchdown of the year as well. It was his fifth straight game with over 50 receiving yards. On the season, he also extended his team-leading receiving yards mark to 483 and he’s averaged 53.67 yards per game.
USD coach Bob Nielson said Bell has been that steady presence in the receiver room all year and said his consistency has been a big boost for the offense over his entire career.
“Hard to believe that he hasn't caught a touchdown yet with the number of catches that he has, but just kind of the way that it's worked out,” Nielson said. “Carter's been an unbelievably consistent performer for us over his career. He does a lot more for our football team than his statistics may show. Even been an outstanding guy in the return game, but he’s been a guy that is a big part of our success this season and over the last several years. And a guy that we need to continue to find ways to get the football to.”
The receiving yards record is now one of the program's two major receiving statistical categories Bell now holds. He also broke the all-time receptions record in USD’s previous game against South Dakota State, and Bell still has an opportunity to climb the all-time receiving touchdown list with two regular season games remaining plus any playoff matchups.
He moved into a tie for fourth place all-time following his touchdown reception on Saturday. He now has 17 receiving touchdowns throughout his career which ties Brandt Van Roekel. He can easily move up that list as he’s one behind Derek Gearman (18) in third place and two behind Dan Skelly (19) in second place. He trails program leader Will Powell (21) by four touchdowns.
The historical records are just more accomplishments in what has been one of the best careers in program history. Coming into his sixth and final season, Bell was already a three-time all-conference honorable mention, an all-conference second-team pick as a returner, a 2024 all-conference preseason first-team selection and an All-American.
But he still has plenty of time to add to his legacy statistically and more all-conference and possible All-American honors could be on the way as well. However, his biggest legacy-building opportunity will likely come in the FCS playoffs where the Coyotes will look to contend for its first-ever national championship.
Nielson said Bell will be remembered in Vermillion for years to come and he also expressed how impressive the historical achievements are considering the way the Coyotes have run their offense during Bell's six seasons.
“I think he's going to be remembered as certainly one of the best players that has played here,” Nielson said. “His consistency over a period of time, and I think his numbers speak for himself when you consider the fact that we're necessarily not a pass-first offense. Just the role that he's played, the number of snaps that he's played, the number of wins that he's been a part of, all of that is a testimony to what he's brought to our football program over his career.”
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