Minnesota WR Chris Autman-Bell a rare seventh-year senior
MINNEAPOLIS (BVM) – When looking at the wide receivers in the Class of 2017, a few noticeable names stick out such as Tee Higgins, Jerry Jeudy, Devonta Smith and CeeDee Lamb. While these players have each gone to the NFL and have established themselves in the league, another member of this class, Chris Autman-Bell, has still yet to leave college.
Unlike his counterparts in the NFL, Autman-Bell is returning to his Minnesota Golden Gophers squad for a seventh season, making him one of the longest-tenured players in D-I college football.
"Uncle" @chrisautmanbell will be back for his 7️⃣th year this fall and we know @GopherFootball is excited to have him back❗️🤣 pic.twitter.com/AEoRBkiX4x
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) April 22, 2023
Autman-Bell joins a rare few players who have received a seventh year of eligibility one way or another. For Autman-Bell, his journey started out pretty typically as he redshirted for Minnesota as a freshman in 2017 before playing four straight seasons for the Gophers where he registered 114 catches for 1,756 yards and 12 touchdowns over 44 games. He decided to join fellow Minnesota players Tanner Morgan, Mohamid Ibrahim and John Michael Schmitz for their sixth seasons last fall.
CHRIS AUTMAN-BELL. 😱@chrisautmanbell X @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/EqOYIUVYnT
— Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) September 10, 2022
However, while the three other Gophers are currently on NFL rosters, Autman-Bell decided to stay in Minneapolis for one more season after he tore his ACL in the team’s third game last season. To that point, Autman-Bell was well on his way to establishing himself as a potential NFL player as he led Minnesota in receptions and receiving yards with 11 catches for 214 yards. He also caught a touchdown.
Now, Autman-Bell will look to pay off a long wait. After backing up NFL draft picks Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman over his first few seasons, Autman-Bell led the Gophers in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches in 2021 with 36 catches for 506 yards and six scores that season. He was expected to build on that performance last season, but his injury prevented any positive momentum he gained.
Now, the 24-year-old wideout, affectionately known as Dr. CrAb by his team as a play on both his initials and time in the program, will once again look to prove himself after trying times. With his seventh collegiate season slowly approaching, Autman-Bell will look to prove his recruiting ranking correct and, with a strong season, will hopefully earn a chance to play alongside some of the other standout wide receivers from his class at the next level.
"I've know him for 7 years. We call him Dr.Crab."🦀 #RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers pic.twitter.com/5g2WuKUq2e
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) July 27, 2023
