WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football's David Bell and George Karlaftis have been selected to participate in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, as the league released the list of invited players Wednesday. The NFL Combine returns to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, March 1-7, and both All-American Boilermakers plan to showcase their skills in front of scouts from all 32 NFL teams.
After spectacular junior campaigns in which they helped Purdue beat two top-five teams as part of a nine-win season, Bell and Karlaftis elected to forgo their final season of collegiate eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft. With Bell being the primary target in a high-powered offense and Karlaftis haunting backfields on defense, the two Boilermakers earned All-America honors at the end of the season. The duo was tabbed First Team All-America by the AFCA, becoming the first Boilermaker teammates to be awarded the organization's distinction in 41 years.
Bell became the 21st consensus All-American in Purdue Football history and the first since Rondale Moore (2018). Meanwhile, Karlaftis was recognized as a second team All-American by several outlets to go along with his AFCA First Team All-America accolades, increasing Purdue's All-Americans to 48 throughout program history.
Bell piled up honors following his stellar junior season. Along with his All-America honors, Bell was named the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year as the best receiver in the Big Ten. One of the best receivers nationwide, Bell was also a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
Bell led the Big Ten in catches per game (8.5) and receiving yards per game (116.9), ranking second and fourth in the country, respectively. With 1,286 receiving yards on the year, the Indianapolis native's total sits second in program history, just 21 yards shy of the school record for a single season.
Eclipsing the 100-yard plateau in seven of his 11 games in 2021, Bell set a new Purdue record with 17 career 100-yard receiving games. He also ranks in the school's all-time Top 10 for receptions (4th), receiving yards (5th) and receiving touchdowns (T-5th). Bell averaged an FBS-leading 101.6 receiving yards per game for his career, the only active receiver in 2021 to crack triple digits. His 8.0 receptions per game was the 2nd-most for an active NCAA career during last season.
Bell torched No. 2 Iowa (Oct. 16) with 11 catches for 240 yards, the 2nd-most receiving yards ever by a Boilermaker in a single game. He added another 200-yard day against No. 3 Michigan State (Nov. 6), hauling in 11 receptions for 217 yards and a touchdown to lead Purdue to another Top-5 win. With the pair of performances, Bell joined Brian Alford as the only Boilermakers with multiple 200-yard receiving games in a season.
Bell started his 2021 campaign with a 134-yard, eight-catch effort vs. Oregon State (Sept. 4) before following it up with a 121-yard, six-catch, three-touchdown outing at UConn (Sept. 11). His three touchdowns versus the Huskies matched a career high, and he became only the second Purdue wide receiver to record multiple games with three receiving touchdowns.
Karlaftis became another All-American defensive lineman for Purdue. The West Lafayette, Indiana, native was one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten all season long, exemplified as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award that is given to the defensive player of the year. He was also a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the top defensive end in college football.
Karlaftis led the Boilermakers in tackles for loss (11.5), sacks (5.0), forced fumbles (3), fumble recoveries (2) and quarterback hurries (8). The Purdue defensive end was a consensus First Team All-Big Ten honoree, earning all-conference honors for the second time in his career.
Karlaftis became the first Boilermaker on the defensive side of the ball to be tabbed First Team All-Big Ten since defensive tackle Kawann Short in 2012. His 11.5 tackles for loss ranked seventh in the Big Ten, as Karlaftis recorded at least 1.0 TFL in eight of nine conference games. The junior was one of only four Big Ten defenders to force at least three fumbles throughout the 2021 campaign.
Perhaps his most memorable play of the season was a 56-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Wisconsin (Oct. 23). Karlaftis was a force in some of Purdue's biggest wins. In a road victory at No. 2 Iowa (Oct. 16), the edge rusher produced 12 pressures to help the Boilermakers hand the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season. Facing another unbeaten team at the time, Karlaftis' forced fumble and fumble recovery helped Purdue knock off No. 3 Michigan State at home (Nov. 6).
Making an impact on special teams as well, Karlaftis blocked the first field goal of his career in a win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field (Nov. 20); it was the first field goal blocked by a Boilermaker since 2018.
After spectacular junior campaigns in which they helped Purdue beat two top-five teams as part of a nine-win season, Bell and Karlaftis elected to forgo their final season of collegiate eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft. With Bell being the primary target in a high-powered offense and Karlaftis haunting backfields on defense, the two Boilermakers earned All-America honors at the end of the season. The duo was tabbed First Team All-America by the AFCA, becoming the first Boilermaker teammates to be awarded the organization's distinction in 41 years.
Bell became the 21st consensus All-American in Purdue Football history and the first since Rondale Moore (2018). Meanwhile, Karlaftis was recognized as a second team All-American by several outlets to go along with his AFCA First Team All-America accolades, increasing Purdue's All-Americans to 48 throughout program history.
Bell piled up honors following his stellar junior season. Along with his All-America honors, Bell was named the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year as the best receiver in the Big Ten. One of the best receivers nationwide, Bell was also a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
Bell led the Big Ten in catches per game (8.5) and receiving yards per game (116.9), ranking second and fourth in the country, respectively. With 1,286 receiving yards on the year, the Indianapolis native's total sits second in program history, just 21 yards shy of the school record for a single season.
Eclipsing the 100-yard plateau in seven of his 11 games in 2021, Bell set a new Purdue record with 17 career 100-yard receiving games. He also ranks in the school's all-time Top 10 for receptions (4th), receiving yards (5th) and receiving touchdowns (T-5th). Bell averaged an FBS-leading 101.6 receiving yards per game for his career, the only active receiver in 2021 to crack triple digits. His 8.0 receptions per game was the 2nd-most for an active NCAA career during last season.
Bell torched No. 2 Iowa (Oct. 16) with 11 catches for 240 yards, the 2nd-most receiving yards ever by a Boilermaker in a single game. He added another 200-yard day against No. 3 Michigan State (Nov. 6), hauling in 11 receptions for 217 yards and a touchdown to lead Purdue to another Top-5 win. With the pair of performances, Bell joined Brian Alford as the only Boilermakers with multiple 200-yard receiving games in a season.
Bell started his 2021 campaign with a 134-yard, eight-catch effort vs. Oregon State (Sept. 4) before following it up with a 121-yard, six-catch, three-touchdown outing at UConn (Sept. 11). His three touchdowns versus the Huskies matched a career high, and he became only the second Purdue wide receiver to record multiple games with three receiving touchdowns.
Karlaftis became another All-American defensive lineman for Purdue. The West Lafayette, Indiana, native was one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten all season long, exemplified as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award that is given to the defensive player of the year. He was also a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the top defensive end in college football.
Karlaftis led the Boilermakers in tackles for loss (11.5), sacks (5.0), forced fumbles (3), fumble recoveries (2) and quarterback hurries (8). The Purdue defensive end was a consensus First Team All-Big Ten honoree, earning all-conference honors for the second time in his career.
Karlaftis became the first Boilermaker on the defensive side of the ball to be tabbed First Team All-Big Ten since defensive tackle Kawann Short in 2012. His 11.5 tackles for loss ranked seventh in the Big Ten, as Karlaftis recorded at least 1.0 TFL in eight of nine conference games. The junior was one of only four Big Ten defenders to force at least three fumbles throughout the 2021 campaign.
Perhaps his most memorable play of the season was a 56-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Wisconsin (Oct. 23). Karlaftis was a force in some of Purdue's biggest wins. In a road victory at No. 2 Iowa (Oct. 16), the edge rusher produced 12 pressures to help the Boilermakers hand the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season. Facing another unbeaten team at the time, Karlaftis' forced fumble and fumble recovery helped Purdue knock off No. 3 Michigan State at home (Nov. 6).
Making an impact on special teams as well, Karlaftis blocked the first field goal of his career in a win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field (Nov. 20); it was the first field goal blocked by a Boilermaker since 2018.