Drayden Bell was added to the 2026-27 roster as a graduate assistant to help support the coaching staff and team with recruiting and social media. He joins the Tigers after spending four years as an athlete with the University of Alabama’s swimming and diving team.
Hailing from Wichita, Kansas, Bell spent his time before college as a strength and conditioning intern for Untamed Athletes, where he trained over 50 athletes, working with them during the pre-season and post-season.
He also worked as a Human Performance intern for Wichita State University where he completed case studies and earned medical certifications. Bell then was recruited by the Crimson Tide after earning the title of Kansas State champion seven times.
At the University of Alabama, Bell swam the 50 and 100 freestyle events, being named a five-time All-American and two-time Academic All-American. In his 2024 season, he also qualified as an Olympic Trialist.
During his 2024-25 season, he earned sixth place in the 200 free relay at the SEC Championships and 18th place at the NCAA Championships. The summer of 2025, Bell competed at the U.S. National Championships in the 50m freestyle event.
Alongside swim, Bell grew his online presence, creating content related to being a college-athlete and swimmer, gaining over 18,000 followers on Instagram and Facebook. He was also selected to attend SEC Football Media Days in 2025 as a media assistant.
At Tuscaloosa, Bell graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and will earn his master’s at the University of Missouri-Columbia in Positive Coach and Athletic Leadership.