RETROBEAST: KENDRELL BELL

When news broke that the DAWGS had a new defensive coordinator in the person of Todd Grantham, currently the defensive line coach with the Dallas Cowboys, I was very interested to hear Grantham’s philosophy for coaching the DAWGS. After reading the quotes from Grantham’s teleconference I was jacked and ready to GATA myself! We are months away from the players strapping on the pads and hitting the field again and that is where we will find out all we need to know about Coach Grantham and the new defense at Georgia, but I certainly like what I’ve heard so far. So, as we usher in a new era of gridiron head busting at the University of Georgia, I present for your reading pleasure this edition of RETROBEAST.

RETROBEAST: KENDRELL BELL, #37, Linebacker (1999-2000)

Kendrell Bell was a monster at middle linebacker for Jim Donnan’s DAWGS during the 1999 and 2000 seasons after playing two years at Middle Georgia Junior College. Bell was a native Georgian and a standout at Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia before bringing his hard-hitting game to Athens. Kendrell was a physical presence on the field, quickly earning a reputation as a ferocious hitter and sure tackler. I loved to watch Bell play “between the hedges” and I was as sad to see him graduate as any DAWG I have cheered. As far as I’m concerned, if for nothing more than his hard earned and well deserved reputation alone, Kendrell Bell was absolutely A DAMN BEAST.



From Bell’s official web site:

“He earned All-State honors for the Wildcats and was named All-South by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Kendrell also lettered in basketball and track at Laney and finished fifth in the state in the shot put his senior year. From Laney, Bell headed to Middle Georgia Junior College in Cochran, Georgia, where he racked up 132 tackles and 6.0 sacks for a Warriors defense that ranked first in the nation in 1998. His freshman season, he tallied 698 yards rushing as a fullback. After two season, Kendrell headed to the University of Georgia and continued his outstanding play as a linebacker for the Bulldogs. He started 16 games for Georgia and completed his college career with 153 tackles (95 solo), 10.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and 14 quarterback pressures. As a junior, he set a single-season school record with five blocked kicks. He was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection his senior year. Kendrell majored in Child and Family Development at Georgia. He and his wife Tahira Locke-Bell reside in Hollywood, Florida.”

If you prefer your info in the outline form you can check out Bell’s DAWG days below….

College Career:


• Started 16 games as a defensive standout at Georgia
• Recorded 153 tackles (95 solo), 10.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and 14 quarterback pressures
• Started the final 10 games of his senior season at middle linebacker
• Finished second on the team with 92 tackles (53 solo), 5.0 stops for loss, 2.0 sacks, two quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles
• Added a pass defensed and an interception
• Was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection
• Finished fourth on the club with 61 tackles (42 solo) as a junior
• Also had 5.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, 12 quarterback pressures, three forced fumbles, a pass defensed and three interceptions
• Set a school single-season record with five blocked kicks
• Began his college career at Middle Georgia Junior College in Cochran, Georgia
• Tallied 132 tackles and 6.0 sacks for a defensive unit that ranked first in the nation in ‘98
• Gained 689 rushing yards as a fullback during his freshman campaign
• Majored in Child and Family Development at Georgia

Kendrell was a second-round selection (39th overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2001 NFL draft. Bell was voted the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the year in 2001. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs.