? 2016 ? Senior Season
Awards: Named to the Athlon Sports All-Big Ten third team...Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten from the conference coaches & media panel...Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week following an 18-tackle effort vs. No. 2 Ohio State (10/22)...Collected the Bednarik Award Player of the Week, given to the National Defensive Player of the Week by the Maxwell Football Club following his efforts vs. No. 2 Ohio State (10/22)...Selected as the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week for his 18-tackle effort vs. Michigan State (11/26)...Is the eighth Penn Stater to earn the Walter Camp NDPOTW honor since 2004 and first since Michael Mauti in 2012...Earned the Lions' Pride Award for career contributions at the annual Nittany Lion Football Banquet...Also given the Captain's Award at team banquet.
Season: Started 10 games...Posted a career-high 88 stops despite missting four games...Selected as team captain...His two 18-tackle efforts rank tied for No. 18 on the FBS single game charts...Was one of just four players in the FBS to post multiple games with 18-plus tackles in 2016, joining Nick Cuthbert of Kent State, Bryan London of Texas State and Rodney Butler of New Mexico State.
Kent State (9/3): Ranked second on the team with eight stops...Grabbed his third career interception to end a Kent State scoring threat at the end of the third quarter. at Pitt (9/10): Tied for team high (Wartman-White) with nine tackles, including five solo stops. Ohio State (10/22): Returned after missing four games to make a game- and career-high 18 tackles...Logged a first-quarter sack of J.T. Barrett for his first tackle for loss and sack of the season...Broke up one pass...Helped the defense hold Ohio State scoreless in two quarters for the first time since Michigan State in 2015, which was Ohio State's last loss...Helped the defense to a season-high 11.0 tackles for loss, the most TFLs since posting 11.0 vs. Maryland in 2015...The 11.0 tackles for loss are the most yielded by the Buckeyes since giving up 11.0 vs. Alabama (2015)...The 6.0 sacks given up by Ohio State are the most since yielding 7.0 against Virginia Tech (2014). at Purdue (10/29): Made five stops...Logged one tackle for loss...Helped the defense hold Purdue to just 46 yards rushing, the second opponent held under 50 yards rushing in 2016. Iowa (11/5): Made three tackles...Combined with Jason Cabinda on a tackle for loss of quarterback C.J. Beathard on fourth-and-1 during Iowa's opening drive of the game...Helped the defense hold Iowa to just 30 yards rushing, which was 137.9 yards below the Hawkeyes' season average (167.9 ypg)...It was the fewest rushing yards allowed by Penn State since holding Massachusetts to three yards in 2014...It marked the first time Penn State had held two consecutive opponents to 46 yards rushing or fewer since 2007 (Notre Dame, zero yards; FIU, minus-3 yards)...It was the first time since Penn State joined the Big Ten that it held consecutive conference opponents to 50 yards or less of rushing. at Indiana (11/12): Ranked third on the team with eight tackles...Had 2.5 tackles for loss...Logged a fourth-quarter sack of Richard Lagow, also forcing the fifth and final fumble of the game for Penn State, which was returned for a touchdown by Torrence Brown...Was a part of a defense that forced a season-high five turnovers, the most since forcing five against Maryland in 2015...Penn State's five fumble recoveries were its most since recovering five versus FIU in 2007...Helped the Nittany Lion defense generate nine tackles for loss, marking the seventh time in 2016 the unit has posted at least 9.0 TFL in a game. at Rutgers (11/19): Posted a team-high five stops...Sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble on the same play for the second-straight week in the first quarter...Added a quarterback hurry in the fourth quarter...Helped hold Rutgers to just 87 yards of total offense, the fewest given up by Penn State in Big Ten play and the fewest since 2006 vs. Temple (74)...The five first downs allowed are the fewest in B1G play and fewest since 2006 vs. Temple (2)...Aided the Nittany Lions in compiling nine tackles for loss, the eighth time in 2016 they recorded at least 9.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Michigan State (11/26): Tied his career high with 18 tackles...Combined with Marcus Allen for a first quarter tackle for loss...Added one pass breakup. vs. Wisconsin (12/3): Tied the Big Ten Championship game record with a game-high 13 tackles equaling Wisconsin's Chris Borland's mark from 2012 vs. Nebraska...Ten of his 13 stops were solo, which tied Ryan Shazier's (Ohio State) Big Ten Championship game record...Logged a solo takedown of Bart Houston, which forced a punt on Wisconsin's second drive of the third quarter, as Penn State tied the game on the next possession...Forced one fumble and broke up one pass. vs. USC (1/2): Collected one tackle...Intercepted his second pass of the season and returned it 24 yards to the USC 3-yard line to set up Trace McSorley's 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter...Was injured on the interception and missed the remainder of the game.
? 2015 ? Junior Season
Season: Started 11 games this season, missing two games due to injury...Ranked No. 6 in the Big Ten and No. 32 nationally in forced fumbles (3; 0.25 ffpg)...Finished third on the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks...Recovered his first career fumble recovery against Michigan (11/21).
at Temple (9/5): Ranked second on the team with seven tackles -- four solo...Tied for the team lead with 2.5 TFL, including a 2-yard stop behind the line of scrimmage on the game's opening play...Collected his first sack of the season and forced his second career fumble on the same play in the second quarter...Helped Penn State pile up 15.0 TFL, its most since posting 15.0 vs. Michigan on Sept. 22, 2007. Rutgers (9/19): Recorded nine tackles...Part of a defense that held Rutgers to just three points, the fewest in a Big Ten opener since limiting Minnesota to three points in 1994...Helped hold Rutgers to 43 rushing yards, the fewest since giving up just 33 yards to Maryland in 2014. San Diego State (9/26): Made four tackles (three solo) and broke up one pass. Indiana (10/10): Made three tackles...Helped snap Indiana's string of nine games in which the Hoosiers scored 20-plus points...Part of a defense that held Indiana to 234 yards of total offense, the fewest allowed by PSU since giving up 221 at Indiana in 2014...Aided the defense in limiting the Hoosiers' 155 passing yards, the fewest allowed by Penn State in a Big Ten game since allowing 68 to Indiana in 2014. at Ohio State (10/17): Registered six tackles. vs. Maryland (10/24): Made six tackles...Forced fumble, his second of the season, in the fourth quarter with Maryland in position to have a chance to take the lead...Also had 3.5 tackles for loss, including one sack...Forced one of the season-high five turnovers. Illinois (10/31): Made two tackles...Had one tackle for loss...Part of a defense that recorded its first Big Ten shutout since blanking Minnesota in 2009 (20-0)...Helped hold Illinois to just 167 yards (37 rushing, 130 passing), the fewest allowed since holding Minnesota to 138 yards (37 rushing, 101 passing) in 2009...As a unit, the defense forced a punt on 12 of Illinois' 15 possessions, with two ending with a turnover on downs and the other halted by an interception. at Northwestern (11/7): Made eight tackles, including a career-high 2.5 sacks...Registered 3.5 tackles for loss to help Penn State record its 18th straight game with at least five tackles for loss...The defense posted 10.0 tackles for loss, marking the seventh time this season and fourth straight game it recorded nine or more TFLs. Michigan (11/21): Recorded his first interception of the season (second career) in the first quarter, returning it 25 yards to the Michigan 40...Forced his fourth career fumble and recovered his first career fumble on a strip-sack in the third quarter...Posted five tackles...Had one sack for a loss of seven yards...Helped Penn State recorded at least one sack in its 33rd consecutive games, the Nittany Lions' longest streak since sacks became an official statistic in 2000, including 11 consecutive games with multiple sacks...Helped hold Michigan to less than 100 yards rushing, the fifth Penn State opponent that failed to reach 100 rushing yards (87 on 30 carries). at Michigan State (11/28): Made five tackles. vs. Georgia (1/2): Made a game-high 11 tackles -- eight solo...Had 1.0 tackle for loss.
? 2014 ? Sophomore Season
Season: Appeared in 11 games with 10 starts at outside linebacker...Ranked sixth on the team with 47 tackles (23 solo) and fourth with 7.0 tackles for loss (minus-43)...Added two sacks (minus-17), three pass breakups and one interception on the year...Was a main cog in a defense that held 11 of 13 opponents to under 300 yards of total offense and limited nine opponents to 20 or fewer points in regulation.
UCF (8/30): Started the year with one tackle for loss in the Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland. Akron (9/6): Made two tackles, including 0.5 tackle for loss. at Rutgers (9/13): Pulled in his first career interception with a diving effort in the fourth quarter...Added one solo tackle...The interception was one of five Nittany Lion picks...Helped hold Rutgers to just three first downs and 95 yards in a scoreless second half. UMass (9/20): Came away with his first career sack...Made three total tackles...Efforts in the middle of the defensive line helped the Nittany Lions hold the Minutemen to just three yards rushing, the lowest total allowed by Penn State since 2007 against Notre Dame (zero rushing yards). Northwestern (9/27): Registered two tackles. at Michigan (10/11): Made three stops. Ohio State (10/25): Piled up a career-best 13 tackles for his first career double-digit tackle performance...His 7-yard sack of Ohio State's J.T. Barrett helped force a Buckeye punt late in the third quarter...Helped hold Ohio State to 17 points and 256 yards in regulation. Maryland (11/1): Chipped in five tackles, including one tackle for loss (minus-10)...Assisted the defensive effort to hold the Terrapins to just 194 yards of total offense, the fewest yards of total offense allowed by Penn State to a Big Ten opponent since Minnesota (138 yards) in 2009. at Indiana (11/8): Recorded six stops (five solo), including two TFL...Helped boost a defense that held the then-nation's leading rusher, Tevin Coleman, to just 71 yards...Helped the Nittany Lions shut out the Indiana offense, as the Hoosiers scored their fewest points at home since 2006, via a defensive touchdown. Temple (11/15): Extended his streak to four straight games with a TFL with 0.5 tackle for loss...Accounted for five tackles and one pass breakup to help Penn State become bowl eligible...Helped the defense hold Temple to eight first downs, the fewest for a Penn State opponent since Indiana State posted eight in 2011. at Illinois (11/22): Did not play. Michigan State (11/29): Did not play. Boston College (12/27): Made four tackles (two solo) in his return at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
? 2013 ? True Freshman Season
Awards: Named to the BTN.com Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Season: Appeared in 10 games with one start...Was one of 12 true freshmen to make their debut and four true freshmen to make their first start during the season...Tallied 24 tackles (14 solo), one forced fumble and one interception...Finished tied for third on the team with six special teams tackles.
Eastern Michigan (9/7): Made his collegiate debut...Posted two tackles. Kent State (9/21): Contributed one tackle. at Ohio State (10/26): Made five tackles (two solo). at Minnesota (11/9): Tallied one tackle. Purdue (11/16): Posted three stops. Nebraska (11/23): Logged a season-high six tackles...Forced his first career fumble...Forced a fumble by Cornhusker quarterback Ron Kellogg III on a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line, which was recovered by the Huskers and held them to only a field goal. at Wisconsin (11/30): Made his first career start...Equaled his season-high with six tackles (four solo)...Made the hit on Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave on C.J. Olaniyan's interception in the third quarter, which set up a field goal in the 31-24 victory.
? High School
A four-year letterman as a two-way player at Oakcrest High School, playing for head coach Chuck Smith...Was a standout at linebacker and running back for the Falcons...Accumulated 309 tackles and over 1,000 yards rushing in his career...Selected first-team All-Cape Atlantic League, first-team All-Atlantic City Press and second-team All-South Jersey as a senior...Recorded 112 tackles, two sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception during his senior season...As a junior, made 117 stops, 22 tackles for loss and three sacks, while gaining 429 rushing yards and five touchdowns...Tallied nine sacks to highlight a 68-tackle sophomore season...Added 455 rushing yards and seven touchdowns...Was rated a three-star prospect coming out of high school by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com.
? Personal
Full name is Brandon JaMarr Bell...Son of Eric and Monica Bell...Has one brother, Keenan, and one sister, Erica...Enjoys playing basketball...Plans to major in communications and is interested in pursuing a career in public relations, advertising or film...Born January 9, 1995 in Mays Landing, N.J.