REBEL WITH A CAUSE

As Dallas' head of player personnel from 1960 to 1989, Gil Brandt established himself as one of football's more forward-thinking executives, building the Cowboys into a perennial power.

Brandt now is an NFL.com analyst, and his opinion remains among the game's more respected. He correctly forecast former UNLV cornerback Eric Wright would go in the second round of this year's NFL Draft while others predicted a middle-round pick.

And now he has a high opinion on another Rebel. Brandt rates senior Beau Bell as his No. 1 inside linebacker, projecting him to go high in the second round.

"It isn't what he did last year or how he practices, but if he plays well, that guy has a chance to make a lot of money," Brandt said. "Two things can take place. An underclassman could enter the draft. There's that guy at Southern Cal (junior Rey Maualuga). But for those who are draft eligible now, he's going to be my top guy."

As with Wright, other issues could come into play. Wright dealt head-on with character questions that enabled his stock to rise as draft day approached, and Bell needs to show he can play an entire season relatively unscathed.

When he has played, he has produced. Bell was second-team All-Mountain West Conference two years ago after making 92 tackles, including 7 1/2 for loss and 3 1/2 sacks. He was arguably the conference's best defensive player through the first seven games last season when he made 76 tackles, including nine for loss and four sacks.

"I feel he's one of the best linebackers in our conference, probably you could put him up there in the nation," junior wide receiver Casey Flair said. "In practice, Beau brings intensity every day.

"Sometimes we actually have to slow Beau down in practice. I've heard people (on other teams) say, 'You've got to know where Beau Bell is all the time.' "

The 6-foot-3-inch, 245-pound Bell could be harder to keep track of this season because he might play inside and outside linebacker. He previously stayed outside.

"I do think (his best) position is outside in the NFL," Brandt said. "I think he can cover in space. You can do that as a middle linebacker, but every play is covered in space (outside) and you blitz and you do (many) things."

Few doubt Bell's ability. The question is whether he can stay healthy this season, which opens Aug. 30 at Utah State.

In 2005, Bell played with a groin injury early in the season that caused him to get off to a slow start before breaking out with 14 tackles, including 3 1/2 sacks, in Week 6 against San Diego State.

Then last season, he missed the final five games with a sprained left ankle.

Brandt cautioned reading too much into past injuries as any kind of indicator, but it is a cloud that hangs over Bell as practice begins today at Rebel Park. The newcomers go at 10 a.m. and the veterans at 5:50 p.m. Both practices are open to the public.

Yahoo.com draft expert John Murphy said in an e-mail that Bell's injury history is a concern and has him going in the third round. But Murphy added that "another productive, healthy campaign" might push Bell up as high as the No. 50 selection.

No one has been more frustrated by the injuries than Bell. The ankle sprain last season was especially troubling.

Not only was he having an outstanding season, the injury to his left ankle on Oct. 21 at Brigham Young didn't appear serious. Some speculated, in fact, that he could return the following week at Utah.

He didn't. Nor the next week after that or even the week after that.

Bell tried, taking the practice field each of the first three weeks following the injury. But the ankle never responded the way he had hoped.

"I had no mobility at all," Bell said. "I was in total pain."

Knowing the ankle -- which still was swollen -- was more seriously injured than originally believed, Bell asked to be checked further. He underwent an MRI exam, and he said the results showed the torn ligaments to be "to the worst degree. And I also had a high ankle sprain."

Even by the season finale against Air Force, he could run straight but couldn't cut. A linebacker who can't cut is like a cook who can't boil water.

"If I'm not out there, it just hurts me that I can't be out there with my team," Bell said. "I feel helpless."

That helpless feeling is gone. Bell would like to keep it that way for good.

"I'd like to put last year behind him; I'd like Beau to put last year behind him," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "This is a new year and a new team and a new attitude and a new Beau Bell. I expect great things out of him this season."