Final play from LB Brandon Bell 'epitomizes' a storied career
PASADENA, Calif. – In what was the final game of his Penn State career, Brandon Bell walked off the field after the Rose Bowl Monday night in street clothes and with his right arm in a sling.
Just over one hour before, however, he was dressed in helmet and pads, making one of the greatest plays of his Nittany Lion career. It would also be his last.
Although it was USC that finished the game victorious, 52-49, at one point in the third quarter Penn State held a 15-point advantage and one play from Bell was a reason why. With the Trojans facing second-and-8 from their own 25-yard line, quarterback Sam Darnold forced a pass to his right, which was deflected by cornerback Christian Campbell. With the ball bobbling in the air, Bell swooped in for what was his second career interception. He then hustled down the sideline for a 24-yard return before being tackled at the 3-yard line and to set up a score on the offense's very next play.
As his teammates celebrated, Bell laid on the ground, wincing in pain as team trainers rushed to his side. He would not return and was not available to speak to reporters afterward.
As unfortunate of a way it was for his career to end, if there was one play to conclude on, it might have been that one.
"It just epitomized him," said defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Brent Pry. "That play he made, being around the ball like that, when it's tipped up and coming up with it and then the run after the catch – that's who he is. He's just a special guy that way. I hate it for him that he couldn't finish that game like that. I absolutely hate it for him. One other thing, he had another play or two left in him out there. If he's not our best player, he's one of our best players. He makes a lot of plays, especially in big games. Obviously it hurts losing a guy like that."
Once Bell headed to the locker room, USC went on to outscore the Nittany Lions, 24-7. It also gained 243 yards.
Already down one linebacker, due to the suspension of Manny Bowen, Pry was forced to reshuffle his unit late in the game.
"It's nothing that we haven't been in before," said Pry. "We had to step up. We lost those guys earlier in the year. We had to find a way and step up today for Manny. Cam Brown has played some football for us this year. Felt fine putting him in the game, but guys have to step up. That's been the thing about this team. We've been able to do that. Young guys, walk-on guys – it didn't matter. If your ticket was punched, you had to do your job."
Against the explosive Trojans in the Rose Bowl, however, they were too much for PSU's defense to overcome as the game wore on. There were other factors in play beside the loss of Bell, but the void his injury created played a part.
"Brandon is a baller," said junior safety Marcus Allen, who finished the game nine tackles. "That's what he's born to do. We – I should've played harder for him."
Aside from the interception, Bell finished the game with only one tackle, but he finishes the year ranked second on the team with 88 total, a career high. His four-year career with the Nittany Lions ends with 224 total tackles in 42 games. He also had 27 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. A team captain as a senior, he graduated in December with a degree in telecommunications.
"I love Brandon Bell," Pry added. "He epitomizes, I think, Linebacker U – the toughness, the spirit, the production and the finding a way. He's just a special guy. He's an unbelievable college linebacker, in my opinion, a guy who plays hurt, has played hurt for two years for the most part. He's not overly big. He's not overly strong. He's not overly fast, but he plays linebacker the way you want a guy to play it."
