Rebels hoping B.J. Bell can make a name for himself

B.J. Bell hopes to charge on to the Rebel football scene this fall.

Junior defensive end B.J. Bell is the third member of his family to put on the UNLV football uniform.

Oldest brother Zach was a linebacker for the Rebels under John Robinson in 2001-2004. And you might have heard of his other brother, Beau, who was the 2007 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year before heading off to the NFL to play for the Cleveland Browns.

B.J. bears a striking resemblance to Beau facially. However, at 6-foot-2 and 260 pounds, he is already about 25 pounds heavier than Beau. And unlike his two older brothers who played linebacker, he’s a pass rushing defensive end who garnered 10 sacks last year at Santa Ana (Calif.) College en route to first team J.C. Gridwire All-American honors. That’s one less sack than the entire UNLV team registered in 12 games a year ago.

B.J. Bell

“I think he has a tremendous future,” UNLV head coach Mike Sanford said. “He’s going to play for us this year. Every day he just has to learn what we’re doing a little bit better. He’s got a ton of ability and we’re excited about him.”

B.J. Bell, who initially received strong interest from Pac-10 schools but eventually picked the Rebels over offers from Kansas, San Diego State and Marshall, says he’s excited to add to the Bell football legacy at UNLV.

“It feels pretty cool,” he said. “I’m glad I can be a part of a legacy. I’ve got some big shoes to fill but I also play a different position than Beau and Zach played. I feel I can make a name for myself and not just live off my brothers’ names. I’ve just got to go out and play to the best of my abilities.”

B.J. Bell used to attend Rebel football camps when he was younger. At that time he wasn’t particularly interested in joining his siblings in wearing the Scarlet and Gray.

“I thought it was too hot,” he said with a smile. “I never really wanted to come. But now that I came here I’m having a great time. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”

He said his older brothers didn’t push UNLV on him as hard as some might expect.

“Beau and Zach both wanted what was best for me,” he said. “They said they’d support me with whatever decision I made. I thought about how they both came here and liked it a lot so why not me?”

B.J. and his new Rebel teammates take part in their first practices in the small mountain town of Ely today. He was asked what kind of advice Beau gave him on surviving the next nine days up north.

“Beau said to just do everything full speed,” he said. “He warned me that it is going to be cold (lows in the low 40’s) in the morning. The difference is I love the cold so I don’t really mind that.”

Obviously B.J. Bell has a mind of his own. Now the question is can he make a name of his own in UNLV football lore?