John Bell Season 1971

1973 (Senior)
Bell was a starter and ranked with Lucious Selmon of Oklahoma as two of the Big Eight’s premier middle guards. John injured his knee in the Colorado game kept him from an all-star year. In spite of his injury. He led the team in tackles with 103. He had a superb game against All-American center Bill Wyman of Texas in the 1974 Cotton Bowl. 

Bell was a main reason why the Huskers had the best passing defense in the Big Eight for the second straight year, only allowing 39.9 yards per game. Nebraska ranked second in total defense at 245.8 yards per game, behind only Oklahoma.

1972 (Junior)
Bell recovered from knee surgery and had an excellent year as Rich Glover’s backup and is the heir-apparent of the Outland and Lombardi Trophy winner. He logged 51 tackles, 31 unassisted as a reserve in 1972. Six of those tackles were sacks for 23 yards in losses. 

Nebraska had the best defense in the Big Eight, allowing just 219.2 yards per game. The Huskers ranked first in passing defense (106.5 ypg) and second in rushing defense (112.7 ypg).

John was a dual sport athlete who also starred on Coach Orval Borgialli’s Husker wrestling team and posted a 9-3 record at 190 pounds. 

1971 (Redshirt)
John redshirted after transferring to Nebraska from Cypress Junior College. 

Cypress Junior College (Cypress, California)
John transferred in the spring of ‘71 and looked good in spring drills, but was sidelined by a knee injury and missed the entire 1971 season. John is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bell, Sr.