Louisville football has seen many players step up this season to help the Cards boast a 7-1 record, but Chris Bell has emerged as a superstar. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound receiver was one of the most anticipated players in the ACC this preseason after David Pollack put the whole nation on notice by labeling him a game-changer.
Well, Pollack spoke into existence as the superstar isn't just in the running for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, but his dominant season so far has skyrocketed his NFL Draft stock. Mel Kiper Jr. is one of the most reliable NFL Draft experts out there, and the ESPN expert recently updated his 2026 NFL draft Big Board rankings, and Louisville fans see Bell's name right in the middle of it.
Chris Bell's NFL Draft stock skyrockets in experts latest update
Kiper Jr. recently updated his 2026 NFL Draft top prospects, emphasizing that it isn't a mock draft, but rather his top prospects for the upcoming season. And one of the biggest jumps in his update was none other than the Cards superstar.
Bell went from not ranked in his top 25 to now ranked No. 14 in his big board entering Week 11, and is ranked as the No. 4 wide receiver.
"The production has steadily improved over the past three years, as Bell has gone from 29 catches in 2023 to 43 last season to 48 in only seven games in 2025. He is a physically imposing pass catcher who excels in 50-50 situations. Bell wins across the middle and on the deep ball, and he can tack on yardage after the catch."
The three wide receivers currently ranked ahead of Bell are Jordan Tyson from Arizona State, Makai Lemon from USC, and Carnell Tate from Ohio State. Bell has entered the elite conversation, and he did it from his dominant three-week stretch. As of right now, he has 56 catches for 743 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.
However, what makes Bell so special is that he shows up even more in the big games, as in the Cards' three biggest games, he logged 31 catches for 441 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He ranks No. 8 in the nation for both receptions and receiving yards, and with Louisville's playoff chances staying alive, the spotlight will only get brighter for Bell.
The Cardinals' wide receiver was expected to take a big leap this season, and he exceeded everyone's expectations. Bell has positioned himself to be the first Louisville player drafted in the first round since 2020, when Mekhi Becton was drafted the 11th pick overall by the New York Jets.