San Francisco picks Wichita’s Blake Bell in 4th round of NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers selected Oklahoma TE Blake Bell, a Wichita native, with the 18th pick of fourth round of Saturday’s NFL Draft.

Bell, who was a Wichita Eagle Top 11 quarterback at Bishop Carroll, switched positions at Oklahoma before his senior season.

“When you haven’t done something for that long, it’s all about just getting reps and getting used to the switch,” Bell told San Francisco reporters after his selection. “It went good. It all went back to me making a switch.

“A lot of people thought that, you know, OU or somebody wanted to do it for me. And I said ‘No, no. That was my decision.’

“So, ever since I switched, I haven’t looked back. And I’m just excited about it.”

Picked 117th overall, Bell joins Jordan Phillips, Geneo Grissom and Ben Heeney as other Wichita-area players selected.

"That's awesome," Carroll coach Alan Schuckman said. "I'm so excited for him and his opportunity."

The only previous Carroll player in the NFL under Schuckman was receiver Joe Hastings, who is now an assistant with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

Bell’s father, Mark, and his uncle, Mike, were taken in the 1979 NFL Draft out of Colorado State.

Undrafted free agents sign — Several players with local ties signed free-agent contracts after going undrafted.

West Virginia running back Dreamius Smith, a Heights and Butler Community College product, signed with the San Diego Chargers. Kansas defensive end Michael Reynolds, a Kapaun Mount Carmel product, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kansas State defensive end Ryan Mueller also signed with the Chargers. K-State quarterback Jake Waters signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Pittsburg State defensive back DeVante Bausby signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

This story was originally published May 2, 2015 at 12:30 PM with the headline "San Francisco picks Wichita’s Blake Bell in 4th round of NFL Draft."