Penn State Sports Magazine
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and Bell is sure to say hello when Hodges is back in town for a workout and not in San Francisco striving toward a starting position with the 49ers alongside Bow- man. The NFL is Bell's goal, too, but first he wants to finish what he started when he set out to emulate his fellow South Jersey native. When Bell initially learned about Hodges, it was his style of play that stuck out and served as motivation. Now with his veteran savvy and his ability to track down ball carriers, it's Bell who is providing an example for young linebackers, includ- ing one who hails from – you guessed it – South Jersey. Looking back now, though, Bell still sees something else that Hodges had that he doesn't yet: national recognition. During Hodges' final season, in which he teamed with Michael Mauti, Glenn Carson, Mike Hull and crew, PSU's was considered one of the best linebacker units in the Big Ten. Hodges and Mauti both earned end-of-the-year awards that are saved for only the best in the country. That's where Bell wants to return, and he's eager to take his final swing because, as he said, "We just want to be known." What Hodges also had that Bell doesn't yet – making the proposition of league- wide appreciation all the more difficult – is a sizeable supporting cast. During Bell's career, years in which the total scholarship count for Linebacker U hit an all-time low, it's been a piecemeal assemblage of rotating linebackers – some young, some old; some ready, some not. As a result of its personnel shortage, more has been asked of experienced vet- erans such as Bell, and that has taken a physical toll. Bell has battled injuries of all varieties since he arrived at Penn State. During the most recent season, he played through at least one injury to his upper body and one to his lower body. He missed almost all of spring practice but vows that due to a shakeup in summer workouts he'll be fully healthy in time for the opener. "I am feeling good right now," he said in late June. "As you can imagine, I've never been more excited for a camp, for coming into a fall camp. For goals, I really want to be known as the best linebacking corps in the Big Ten. I want them to mention us as a Big Ten linebacking corps that gets it done – the defense as a whole, but per- sonally the linebacker position. I want them to know us as guys who are smart and make plays." In order for him to do that, some of the team's young linebackers will have to help take the load off and keep his legs fresh. Bear in mind, Hodges had Hull. For Bell, Jake Cooper returns to sup- plement the box LB spots after playing in 12 games last year and earning his first and only start in the finale, just as Bell did his true freshman year. There's another young linebacker who saw significant action last season, a player who also appears capable of helping the defense reach its goals. That is sophomore. Manny Bowen. A South Jersey standout from Barnegat, Bowen is coming of age just in time to spell Bell and help reduce the OLB workload. Just as he's coming in, Bell is going out. It's not too different from the transition that took place four years ago when Bell followed in Hodges' footsteps. Last year Bowen appeared in all 13 games and led the team in special teams tackles. His skill set is akin to that of Hodges, and he could prove too valuable to keep of the field in 2016. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-1, 233-pound Bell can also play a box LB position, where Jason Cabinda and Nyeem Wartman-White are the anticipated starters and Cooper is the next guy up. The options mean that Penn State can get creative with its combinations and mix up the look for opposing offenses. "I'm feeling good as far as the linebacking corps [goes]," Bell said. "As far as Manny and Coop and the younger guys who have to step up and who stepped up last year, they know they're not freshmen anymore and they're being counted on the same way that me, Jason and Nyeem are being counted on. It's just maturing those guys as they [grow older]. With the young guys who are coming from high school, we'll pretty much do the same thing. Although you're a freshman, you're at Penn State. There will be a learning curve and every- thing, but eventually we've got to get it going." Because he's only got one season left, and there are still a few more goals to be accomplished. Then it will be someone else's turn. ■ 2 0 1 6 P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L from the one they ran at Briar Woods. When Polk transferred to the school, it was McSorley who helped him learn the new playbook and concepts. With Joe Moorhead now running the show for PSU's offense, installing a system that features a slot WR like Polk in both the run and pass game, Polk and McSorley are learning together. And yet, their on-field reunion is not a done deal. As of midsummer, head coach James Franklin was letting the battle for the starting QB spot rage on between Mc- Sorley and redshirt freshman Tommy Stevens. Classmates in the 2015 recruiting cycle, Polk and Stevens are also friends. They don't have the kind of long-established rapport that Polk and McSorley do, but they're developing one. "I'm very excited to work with him," Polk said. "Tommy and I are boys. We're always playing bas- ketball, playing Xbox together." They're also taking the time to throw one-on-one route combinations this sum- mer to further build on their partnership. Because for Polk, it matters little from whom the ball is thrown. No, most important to him is to just keep moving. "Get off the field, do what you've got to do," he says. "Don't take a big hit." So whoever can help keep him upright and safe is fine by him. ■ POLK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 54