He's amazed at how Oklahoma State covers kicks. The Cowboys get down the field quicker than teams should be able to. It's noticeable watching the difference in speed of the ninth-ranked team in the country and teams on the Cyclones' non-conference schedule.
"It's night and day," Bell said. "You just look at that, and it kind of blows your mind."
So has Oklahoma State's rise into the Top Ten.
The Cowboys have gone from a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 Conference program to the national elite this year by upgrading the speed on their roster. And if the Cyclones (2-6, 0-4) are to beat Oklahoma State (7-1, 3-1) and its second-ranked Big 12 kickoff team Saturday (2:30 a.m., ABC), they will have to find a way to slow down the Cowboys.
"There is a huge speed element change in this roster if you watch them on film," ISU coach Gene Chizik said. "They have key playmakers at just about every position where you need them at quarterback, wide out, tailback."
Athletes aren't just confined to the offensive skill positions.
Linebackers Andre Sexton (team-high 66 tackles) and Patrick Lavine (36 tackles, two interceptions) and strong safety Ricky Price (41 tackles, two sacks, one interception) lead a defensive unit that is third in the Big 12 in points allowed (21.5 points per game).
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And they have plenty of them on offense.
Quarterback Zac Robinson (183.88 quarterback efficiency rating) directs a spread attack that will try to get the ball into the hands of wide receiver Dez Bryant (883 yards and 11 touchdowns), but the Cowboys win games with their rushing attack.
They lead the conference in rushing at 274.98 yards per game. They look to running back Kendall Hunter (1,116 yards and 10 touchdowns) to churn out most of the yardage and put Oklahoma State in position to score more than 50 points, which it's done four times this season.
"It will be another great challenge for us to try to slow down their spread offense," ISU defensive end Rashawn Parker said.
To keep pace with Oklahoma State, the Cyclones will have to do a better job against the spread than it has in the past.
Kent State and quarterback Julian Edelman racked up 410 yards and scored 28 points against the Cyclones on Sept. 6. UNLV and quarterback Omar Clayton compiled 454 yards and 34 points on Sept. 20.
And in conference play, things have gotten worse as Kansas, with quarterback Todd Ressing, scored 35 points on the Cyclones, while Baylor, with quarterback Robert Griffin, scored 38.
"If you are not right on with some of the spread offenses, right now athletically, people can spread you out and get some mismatches in things on the perimeter, speed element wise you got issues, and I think you have to look at it that way," Chizik said. "That will tell a lot of the story right there."
And Chizik knows there is only one way to try and change it, get enough playmakers in Ames to match Oklahoma State athlete for athlete.
"There is no doubt about it," Chizik said. "We have to get more speed on the field."
