University of Connecticut Athletics
Bell Picks Up Third All-American Nod
12/16/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football
Named First Team by the AFCA
STORRS, CT – UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell (Bronx, NY) picked-up his third All-American nod on Tuesday, earning a spot on the 2025 AFCA FBS Coaches' All-America Team announced by the American Football Coaches Association.
Bell was named to the first team after garnering AP All-American first team honors as well. He was honored last week with a spot on the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America second team.
He is the fourth Husky during the FBS era (2003-present) to earn a spot on multiple All-America teams in a season, joining former offensive lineman Christian Hayes (2022 & 2023) and running backs Jordan Todman (2010) and Donald Brown (2008).
Bell finished this season with 101 catches for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, setting new school records for receptions and TDs. Bell averaged 12.7 yards per catch and 106.5 yards per game and ranks second in the NCAA in receptions, yards, TDs, catches per game and yards per game. He led the country with seven 100-yard games this season.
He was named a finalist for the 2025 Biletnikoff Award and has been invited to this year's Panini Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl. He is the 19th Husky in program history to earn an invitation to the Senior Bowl and the first UConn skill player since 2005 (Dan Orlovsky) to do so.
UConn has had 18 players earn first or second team All-American status dating back to 1955 and Bell is fifth wide receiver in program history to earn the honor, joining Carl Bond (1997), Mark Didio (1990 & 1991), Glen Antrum (1988), and Reggie Eccleston (1980).
Over the program's history, 36 players have been honored with All-American first, second team or honorable mention honors.
Team Background: The teams now chosen for each of the AFCA's five divisions evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — Division I-A and Division I-AA. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. In 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively. The AFCA started selecting an NAIA All-America Team in 2006. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.
From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006. A third wide receiver was added to the team in 2024.
