PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF football standouts D'Anthony Bell, Rodney Coates and Matthew Gotel have signed undrafted free agent contracts with NFL teams following the completion of the 2022 Draft.
 
Bell signed with Cleveland, while Coates and Gotel signed with Seattle. They join former UWF receiver Anas Hasic as the only players to join NFL programs since Argos' inaugural season in 2016.
 
Bell spent the past three years at UWF, playing a key role as a starting safety on the 2019 National Championship team and the 2021 Gulf South Conference title squad. He finished 2021 with 61 tackles, including a team-high 43 unassisted, along with five pass break-ups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry. The Covington, Georgia native was named to the AFCA & Associated Press D-II All-America First Teams. Bell started all 26 games at UWF after transferring from Butler Community College in 2019. As a junior in 2019, he totaled 71 tackles and again led the team in solos with 41, while adding two interceptions, nine break-ups and four fumble recoveries.
 
Coates was one of the steadiest receivers in program history, racking up 1,376 yards on 93 catches in 49 games over four seasons. The Grove Hill, Alabama product finished with 15 touchdowns, with six coming during his best season in 2021 where he established career highs with 38 receptions, 656 yards and six touchdowns. He is expected to move to the defensive side of the ball as a defensive back in camp with the Seahawks.

Gotel has been the leading force on the UWF defensive line the past two seasons since transferring from Snow College in 2019. He appeared in all 26 games and made 57 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hurries. As a senior he had 26 stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, four hurries and a pass break-up to earn First Team All-GSC honors. In the 2019 national title season the native of Tacoma, Washington had 31 tackles with 6.5 for loss, six hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.