The Osceola News-Gazette’s Defensive Player of the Year is New York bound.
In a signing ceremony Friday afternoon at Osceola High School, Kowboys’ linebacker/defensive back Jalen Bell announced he would play his college ball for Long Island University.
A Football Championship Series (FCS) program that plays in the Northeast Conference, Long Island finished 4-7 last year under second-year coach Ron Cooper. The Sharks have won 18 conference championships and made eight NCAA playoff appearances in its history. They moved from Division II to Division I in 2019. Bell selected LIU over Duquesne.
“I just felt it was the absolute right place for me,” Bell said at Friday’s announcement. “The school has great facilities, strong academics and most importantly they really wanted me. I fell in love with the school and the coaches on my official visit.”
Bell said that Cooper and the LIU coaches told him that their plan is to use him as a “hybrid player and move him around on the field on defense.”
It is a role Bell is more than familiar with. For the last two seasons he has lined up at corner, safety, inside linebacker, outside linebacker and edge rusher. He has also punted.
Bell played a huge role in leading Osceola to a district championship and a 17th consecutive FHSAA playoff appearance. He finished the season with 60 total tackles to go with 10 tackles-for-loss, two quarterback sacks, two blocked kicks, two pass defenses and a team-high six interceptions.
“If I could have 40 Jalen Bells on the roster, my job would be really easy,” Osceola coach Eric Pinellas said. “He not only gives you everything he has on Friday night, he gives you everything he has at practices and film sessions the rest of the week. Long Island is not only getting a great player, they are getting a great individual.”
