UNLV’s Bell not thrown for loss

Voters looked past UNLV's bottom-of-the-league season and went for senior linebacker Beau Bell's top-of-the-line performance.

Bell was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, a testament to his excellent individual season despite the Rebels' 2-10 record.

"I really appreciate the media and coaches to look past the record and have regard for the player. Because they could've easily looked at the top team and seen who was their best defensive player," Bell said. "I knew they were going to pick the best player. I wasn't really worried. I was more worried about school, to be honest."

Bell, who will graduate in the spring with a university studies degree, has been preparing for next week's final exams. He said he will hire an agent after finals in preparation for the NFL Draft in April.

Bell led the Mountain West in total tackles (126), solo tackles (79) and forced fumbles (five). He also intercepted four passes, and he became the first player in the league's nine-year history to be defensive player of the week three times in one season.

"I feel like he's very deserving of the honor," coach Mike Sanford said. "The great thing about Beau is the way he prepared, the kind of offseason he had, playing the whole year. He played with passion. He played hard. He showed a lot of leadership."

Bell is the latest in a recent line of UNLV defensive standouts. Jamaal Brimmer won the league's top defensive player award in 2002 and the media's version in 2003. Kevin Thomas was Defensive Player of the Year in 2001.

"I appreciate being in the same category with both guys," Bell said.

He also was appreciative of making it through an entire season. Bell's 2006 season was cut short seven games in because of a sprained ankle, and he played hurt much of his sophomore year.

But he showed plenty of promise both seasons, then made this year his best even as the team struggled.

"The thing when you look at us, we were so close to getting this thing over the hump, and Beau Bell was a major part of that," Sanford said. "We were very good defensively at the beginning part of the season. We had some tough moments after that, but Beau kept a positive attitude and kept doing things to win."

Bell was the only Rebel to make first-team all-conference. Senior Mil'Von James was named a second-team defensive back after leading the conference with 20 passes defended. He broke up 19 passes and intercepted one.

UNLV freshman offensive lineman Matt Murphy, junior running back Frank Summers and sophomore wide receiver Ryan Wolfe were honorable mention selections.

In addition to Bell, the major award winners were Air Force senior Chad Hall for Offensive Player of the Year, Utah junior Louie Sakoda for Special Teams Player of the Year, Brigham Young's Harvey Unga for Freshman of the Year, and Air Force's Troy Calhoun for Coach of the Year.

Complete all-Mountain West on Scoreboard, Page 10C.