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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
bell

Derrius Bell

  • Title
    Cornerbacks
  • Alma Mater
    SMU '11
  • Coaching Experience
    Fifth Season
  • Seasons at UTEP
    Second
  • Email Address
    mgarrido@utep.edu
  • Phone
    (915) 747-5224
Derrius Bell completed his second season on the UTEP staff, directing the cornerbacks. The UTEP defense registered 34 passes broken up and 40 passes defended (six interceptions).
 
The Miners featured two cornerbacks ranked in the top 10 in Conference USA in passes defended. Junior Nik Needham’s nine passes defended ranked tied for 10th in C-USA, and also tying for seventh in conference with junior Kalon Beverly with eight passes broken up.
 
Needham also has 24 passes broken up in his career, ranking tied for second on the program’s all-time top-10 list. Against WKU, Needham tied a school record by breaking up five passes. Needham ranked tied for 44th in C-USA with 59 tackles.
 
Beverly (16 pass breakups) needs five to crack the school’s all-time top-10 list, while he posted a career-high three pass breakups against UTSA.
 
Sophomore cornerback Justin Rogers turned in a solid second campaign, tallying 39 tackles and ranking tied for the team lead with two interceptions. UTEP’s cornerbacks also combined for 10.0 tackles for loss.
 
UTEP’s pass defense (212.3 y/g allowed) and total completions allowed (215) each ranked tied for sixth in conference. The Miners allowed only 208 passing yards against WKU, who led C-USA and ranked sixth in FBS with 333.7 yards per game. The Miners also held the Hilltoppers to a season-low 15 points (C-USA only game) as they averaged 28.2 points in eight league contests. WKU also tallied a season-low 287 yards of total offense as it averaged 399.8 yards per game. Prolific WKU quarterback Mike White, who led the league and ranked third in FBS with 3,826 passing yards, threw for a season-low 208 on 24 completions against the Miners’ defense. UTEP allowed 213 passing yards against North Texas, which ranked second in C-USA in passing yards per game (284.9). The UTEP defense was one of three C-USA schools not to allow a long play of 70-plus yards. UTEP’s defense also scored three touchdowns, the most since scoring four in 2008.

In his first season, Bell mentored one cornerback in particular in Justin Rogers. The sophomore earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors after posting 17 tackles and ranking second on the team with seven pass breakups. Rogers picked off a pass, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Starting junior cornerback Nik Needham excelled under Bell as he led the team with 11 pass breakups (ranked t-seventh in C-USA). Needham ranked fifth on the defense in tackles (54).

The Miners’ pass defense ranked third in C-USA (209.0 yards allowed per game) as the safeties excelled in the backfield. UTEP also ranked fifth in total defense (419.3 yards allowed per game).

Bell served as the Mustangs’ defensive coordinator of quality control from 2013-2014. Prior to being promoted to quality control, Bell was a graduate assistant under Miners’ defensive coordinator Tom Mason.

In 2012 he was instrumental in the Mustangs’ defensive journey, as they posted two shutouts and tied an NCAA interception record. The defense ranked 15th nationally in rush defense with just 118 yards per game, while also tying for third in takeaways (37), ranking second in fumble recoveries for touchdowns (16) and leading the nation in interceptions for touchdowns (eight).

Bell not only aided Mason for three seasons but also played for him at SMU. He lettered for the Mustangs for three seasons (2007-2009) and appeared in over 20 games. During his playing career, he notched 66 tackles and two interceptions. As a sophomore he started in 11 games and totaled 53 stops, 5.5 tackles for loss and nine pass breakups. In 2007 he saw action in nine games as a true freshman.

Prior to heading to SMU, Bell was rated the 12th-best corner prospect in the country by ESPN.com. As a senior at Hillcrest High School he recorded 59 tackles, three picks and seven pass breakups. Bell also made an impact on special teams and offense, notching two kickoff returns for touchdowns and catching 13 passes for 158 yards and a score.

Bell received his degree from SMU in 2011. His older brother Dustin Bell played corner for the Miners in two seasons (2008-2009).