PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have taken running back Le’Veon Bell in the second round of the NFL draft.
The 6-foot-1, 244-pound Bell ran for 3,346 yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons with the Spartans and caught 78 passes for 531 yards. The Steelers are looking to replace Rashard Mendenhall, who signed a free agent contract with Arizona last month.
Bell is the highest running back taken by the Steelers since they took Mendenhall in the first round in 2008. Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Todd Haley says Bell’s size and versatility makes him a good fit.
Bell ran for 1,793 yards last season, the second-highest total in school history and was a first team All-Big Ten selection. He will compete with Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer for the starting job in Pittsburgh.
