2012 Bio

Kenny Bell Photo Gallery

Honors and Awards

• First-Team All-Big Ten (BTN, CBS, ESPN, Phil Steele, 2012)
• Second-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches, Media, 2012)
• Nebraska Sophomore Receptions Record (50)
• Nebraska Sophomore Receiving Yards Record (863)
• Nebraska Sophomore Receiving TD's Record (8)
• Nebraska Sophomore 100-Yard Receiving Games Record (3)
• Honorable-Mention Freshman All-American (CollegeFootballNews.com, 2011)
• Big Ten All-Freshman Team (Yahoo.com, ESPN.com, 2011)
• Longest Touchdown Run by a Freshman in School History (80 yards at Minnesota, 2011)
• Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll (2010)
• Nebraska Offensive Scout Team MVP (2010)

Junior Kenny Bell will head into the 2013 season as one of the top returning receivers in the Big Ten Conference and as a candidate for national honors this fall. The 6-1, 185-pound Bell has also positioned himself to make a significant mark in the Nebraska record books during the second half of his Husker career.

Bell is one of three returning receivers who caught at least 30 passes last season and form arguably the top receiving unit in the Big Ten. Bell has led Nebraska in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches each of the last two seasons. In 2012, Bell caught 50 passes for 863 yards and eight touchdowns. His 50 catches were seventh in Nebraska history, while his 863 yards and eight touchdown catches were both fourth on the career charts. Bell’s 863 yards were also the most ever by an NU sophomore.

Bell’s play as a sophomore earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors from both the league coaches and media. He was also tabbed a first-team selection by several media outlets.

Last season Bell reached the 1,000-yard career receiving mark in just 20 games, the second-quickest NU player to reach that milestone behind only 1972 Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers. Bell enters his junior season in ninth place in both receiving yards (1,324) and receptions (82) at Nebraska. He is poised to move well into the top five in both categories this fall. His 11 career touchdown receptions are three outside of the top five on that list.

2012 (Sophomore)
Bell started all 14 games for Nebraska and led the team in every receiving category. He averaged 17.3 yards per catch to rank among the national leaders in that category, and his per-catch average was the 10th-best in school history among players with at least 30 receptions. Bell had 16 catches of at least 20 yards on the season, and all eight of his touchdown catches were from 25 yards or more.

The Colorado native topped the 100-yard mark in receiving three times in 2012, including a career-high nine catches for a career-best 136 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota. He also topped 100 yards against both UCLA and Ohio State. Bell finished the season with at least three catches in eight games, and had a catch in every game but the Iowa contest. Prior to going without a catch at Iowa, Bell caught a pass in 23 straight games, the second-longest streak in NU history. Bell also contributed in the return game in 2012, averaging 23.2 yards on 14 kickoff returns.

Bell’s only reception in the opener against Southern Miss was a 26-yard touchdown grab. At UCLA, he set then career highs with six catches for 108 yards, all in the first half. The game marked the first 100-yard receiving effort for an NU player since 2010. Bell also had two kickoff returns for 70 yards, including a career-long 47-yard return.

Bell made the most of his three catches against Arkansas State, with a 42-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter and a 25-yarder TD reception in the second quarter. A week later against Idaho State, Bell caught his fourth touchdown of the season on a then-career-long 68-yard reception in the first quarter.

After grabbing four balls in a win over Wisconsin, Bell set a personal-best with 133 receiving yards on five catches at Ohio State. He grabbed a career-long 74-yard reception in the second quarter to set up a Taylor Martinez touchdown run.

Against Northwestern, Bell had six receptions for 77 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. In the contest, he became the 20th player in school history to crack the 1,000-yard receiving mark and the second-fastest to reach that mark.  Bell had two receptions for 51 yards in a key Legends Division win over Michigan, including a 32-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

Bell combined for seven catches in wins over Michigan State and Penn State, then had a career day in a 38-14 victory over Minnesota. Bell snared a career-high nine receptions for a career-high 136 yards and two touchdowns, including a 36-yarder in the first quarter and a 30-yard TD catch in the third quarter. Bell’s nine receptions tied for the eighth-most in a game in NU history, and the 136 yards fell just outside of the top 10 on the single-game yardage list.

After going without a catch at Iowa, Bell caught two passes for 14 yards against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. He closed his sophomore season with four receptions for 60 yards in the Capital One Bowl against Georgia. His four catches gave him 50 on the year, good for the seventh 50-catch season in NU history.

2011 (Redshirt Freshman)
Bell had a strong surge in the second half of 2011 that allowed him to become just the second freshman ever to lead Nebraska in receptions and receiving yards. Bell joined Nate Swift who accomplished that feat in 2005 and went on to become Nebraska's all-time leader in receptions. Bell's receptions and receiving yardage totals were the second-best totals ever for a Nebraska freshman.

Bell averaged 14.4 yards per catch and demonstrated big-play ability with eight catches of at least 20 yards. Bell made 27 of his 32 catches after the start of Big Ten play, and had at least four catches in four of the final seven games. Bell capped his regular season with five catches for a Nebraska season-best 93 yards in the win over Iowa.

Bell opened the year with five catches in non-league play, but he made the most of those opportunities. His first career catch against Fresno State went for 42 yards, and he had two catches for 59 yards against Washington, including a 50-yarder on the Huskers' first offensive play that set up a touchdown one play later. Bell caught his first career touchdown at Wyoming.

Bell started every game in conference play, and became NU's top receiver. He helped NU overcome a 21-point deficit against Ohio State with three catches. A week later, he totaled a career-high 107 all-purpose yards at Minnesota. He caught four passes for 25 yards and ran a reverse 82 yards for a second-quarter touchdown. It was the longest run from scrimmage for a Husker since 2004 and the longest TD run by a freshman in school history.

Bell had a career-high five catches for 58 yards, including a 14-yard fourth quarter touchdown against Northwestern, then led Nebraska with four catches for 42 yards in a win at Penn State. Bell matched his career high with his five-catch effort against Iowa, including three receptions that covered at least 19 yards. Bell closed his freshman year with three catches for 53 yards in the Capital One Bowl. He opened the scoring against South Carolina with a 30-yard first quarter touchdown catch.

2010 (Redshirt)
Bell redshirted in his first year in the program and worked as a scout team receiver.

Before Nebraska (Fairview HS)
Bell missed much of his senior season with an injury, but scored five touchdowns in his first five games back in action. He helped Fairview High to a 12-1 record and a state semifinal appearance in 2009. Bell caught 18 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns, and added an interception and kickoff return for a touchdown. Despite his limited action, Bell's impact was recognized with first-team All-Colorado and first-team Class 5A all-state honors from the Denver Post.

As a junior, Bell earned first-team All-Front Range League honors, playing wingback and rushing for 958 yards and 12 touchdowns, while splitting carries. Bell was ranked among the top 10 players in Colorado according to Rivals.com, and the service also ranked him among the top 70 "athlete" prospects in the country.

Bell chose Nebraska after also visiting Minnesota and Texas Tech. He also had offers from several other schools including Colorado, California, Arizona and Arizona State. In addition to his football skills, Bell was also a standout athlete in basketball, where he helped the team to the state title game as a senior, and on the track (long jump) for Fairview High.

Personal
Kenny was born on Feb. 25, 1992, and is the son of Tami Campbell and his stepfather is Dan Campbell. Kenny’s father, Ken Bell, played for the Denver Broncos from 1986 to 1989, totaling more than 2,000 career yards in kickoff returns. Kenny is majoring in business administration, and was named to the 2010 Big 12 Fall Academic Honor Roll. Bell has volunteered time with Husker Heroes and at Meadow Lane Elementary.

Bell's Career Statistics

Rushing: Career: 5 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD, 21.6 average,
long of 82 at Minnesota (2011)
2012: 2 carries, 8 yards, 0 TD, 4.0 average, long of 7 vs. Southern Miss
2011: 3 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD, 33.3 average, long of 82 yards at Minnesota (TD)*
*longest touchdown run by a freshman in school history

Kickoff Returns: Career: 20 ret., 477 yds, 0 TDs, 23.9 avg., long of 47 at UCLA
2012: 14 returns, 325 yards, 0 TDs, 23.2 average, long of 47 at UCLA
2011: 6 returns, 152 yards, 0 TD, 25.3 average, long of 33 at Michigan

Punt Returns: 1 career punt return for 0 yards at Northwestern (10/20/12)