EL PASO, Texas “”mdash; Long after his teammates emptied the
locker room, UCLA’s Kahlil Bell sat outside his locker with a big
smile spread across his face. It was an afternoon the freshman
running back will never forget.
After star running back Maurice Drew was slowed down by a left
shoulder injury in the first quarter, Bell made the most of his 19
touches, racking up a career-high 139 rushing yards and two
touchdowns.
UCLA fell behind Northwestern after three costly interceptions
by senior quarterback Drew Olson, but Bell brought his team back
with a 5-yard touchdown run at the end of the first quarter and a
6-yard scamper into the end zone with under nine minutes remaining
in the second quarter to help knot the game at 22-22. The Bruins
never looked back.
"I just tried not to mess up," Bell said. "When Maurice went
down, coach (Karl Dorrell) came in and asked me if I’m ready. And I
told him, yeah, I’m ready. This is something that I’ve worked hard
for my whole life. This is something that I wanted."
Bell, a California product out of Marin Catholic High School,
was named co-MVP of the Sun Bowl with fellow running back Chris
Markey, who ran for 155 rushing yards on 23 carries.
Bell and Markey’s heroics are a testament to the Bruins’ depth
at running back.
"Those kids understand that they have to always prepare
themselves and understand that anything can happen," UCLA running
backs coach Eric Bieniemy said. "I’m proud of those two kids, and
they’ll have a great future in front of them."
For Bell, the Sun Bowl validated a year of hard work and
personal growth.
For most of the season, the 5-foot-11, 206-pound Bell was mired
at the bottom of the Bruins’ running back depth chart. Add that to
the fact he’s sitting behind one of the most prolific running backs
in UCLA history in Drew and a shifty sophomore in Markey, and Bell
saw very few touches in the first part of the season.
Bell wasn’t discouraged, but he also wasn’t satisfied with just
being a role player.
"Kahlil, he stepped up so much this year, I can’t even explain,"
Markey said. "Just seeing him from when he came in and not knowing
the offense, and coming to me and Maurice and having to ask us for
help ““ it’s just amazing how much he’s learned and how much
he’s progressed. Today, he was running the ball like he’s been in
this offense forever."
Coming into his freshman season, Bell didn’t know what to
expect. In fact, he admitted that he doubted himself. The rigors of
football tired him.
"When I came in I didn’t have many expectations," said Bell, who
finished with 310 rushing yards, 53 carries, three touchdowns and
averaging 5.9 yards per carry this season. "I just wanted to play.
That was my goal. When I came in I wasn’t sure how my talent
stacked up to the rest of the guys on the team. I just put my hard
hat on just to get some playing time. I don’t think I can top the
way this season has ended."
But now Bell has his name in the record books in the second
oldest bowl in college football.
As his teammates celebrate the program’s first bowl victory
under Dorrell, Bell was in his powder-blue UCLA sweats with his
headphones wrapped around his neck. Taking a moment to himself in
the locker room, he could not believe the day he had and what this
means for the future of the Bruins.
"What can you say ““ this is the best way to end my
freshman year," Bell said. "This year taught us we’re right there
at the crest of putting this program at the next level and (being)
a powerhouse in this country. I think winning this 10th game is
going to help us over the hump, and hopefully next year we can
compete for a national championship."