Ricky Lynn Bell (April 8, 1955 – November 28, 1984) was an American professional football player who was a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). Bell was a star in college for the University of Southern California, gaining 1,875 yards rushing in his junior season. The #1 Overall Selection in the 1977 NFL Draft, Bell was inducted posthumously into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Early years Born in Houston, Texas, Bell moved to Los Angeles at age eleven and starred in football at its John C. Fremont High School. Bell was the brother of Archie Bell, lead singer of the 1960s R & B group Archie Bell and the Drells and Jerry Bell, lead singer of the 1970s and 80s funk bands The Dazz Band and The New Birth. He was also the brother of Neekeita and Lamesia Bell. College career Originally a linebacker, Bell first attracted notice during his sophomore season at USC in 1974 as a great blocker and between-the-tackles runner, sharing the position of fullback with David Farmer for the national championship team (UPI) that defeated third-ranked Ohio State 18–17 in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. In 1975, the Trojans won their first seven games. Without a passing game to balance the offense, they struggled to an 8–4 record, but was capped with a victory over Texas A&M in the Liberty Bowl. During this season, Bell led the nation in rushing, gaining 1,875 yards, as he finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy and was a consensus All-American. Then in his senior season of 1976, Bell led the Trojans team to an 11–1 record, crowned by a 14–6 victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl. Despite suffering nagging injuries that limited his playing time, Bell set the USC single-game rushing record of 347 yards against Washington State at the new Kingdome, and he was the runner-up for the Heisman, behind Tony Dorsett of Pittsburgh, the national champions. Bell was voted the player of the year in the Pacific-8 Conference in 1976. He was also awarded the 1976 W.J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast and was again a consensus All-American. NFL career Bell was the first overall draft choice in the 1977 NFL Draft, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who