s one linebacker from southern New Jersey was coming in,
another was on his way out.
Verbally committed to Penn State in 2012, Brandon Bell often
watched fall games from the recruiting seats in Beaver Stadium. As a
senior at Oakcrest in Mays Landing, he paid specific attention that
season to No. 6, the outside linebacker from Paulsboro – Gerald
Hodges.
"I noticed guys like Gerald Hodges and NaVorro Bowman [in 2008
and '09] and I modeled my game after those guys," Bell said, emphasizing
how "the athleticism they played with" was graceful "but at the
same time the physicality" was a display of pure force. He concedes
that his skills are different from theirs, but when it comes to Hodges,
Bell admired most his toughness and instincts. And that is where a
couple more comparisons can be drawn.
Fast forward four years, and now it's Bell who is playing a similar
freewheeling outside linebacker position for the Nittany Lions. He
stays in touch with Hodges as best he can. They text back and forth,
P R E V I E W
JERSEY
BARRIER
Garden State LBs have boosted
PSU's stopping power over the years.
Brandon Bell looks to add to that
storied legacy in his final season
|
L I N E B A C K E R S
BALL CONTROL
Bell forced three
fumbles last year,
ranking sixth in the
Big Ten and 32nd
nationally.
Photo
by Steve Manuel
A
