Vonn Bell is Big Ten’s best this week – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 9, 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior safety Vonn Bell is the Big Ten Conference defensive player of the week. Bell, who is one of 16 semifinalists for the 2015 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football, earned the Big Ten honor for his outstanding play Saturday in the Buckeyes’ 28-14 win over Minnesota.
Bell made the game-altering play against Minnesota, intercepting a Mitch Leidner pass and scoring from 16 yards to break a scoreless tie late in the first half. Bell slipped inside of tight end KJ Maye to record the interception and then he outran and eluded a host of Golden Gophers to reach the end zone, giving the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead with 4:53 to play in the first half. The Buckeyes then scored on their next possession for a 14-0 halftime lead in a game they would ultimately win, 28-14.
The return marked the second score of the year for Bell after a 14-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Hawaii. Bell also tied his career-best with 10 tackles against Minnesota. He also had 10 tackles earlier in the season vs. Northern Illinois.
Bell, from Rossville, Ga., and Ridgeland High School, leads the Buckeyes and ranks sixth in the Big Ten Conference with 10 passes defended, a total that includes eight pass break-ups and two interceptions. He also ranks third on the team with 49 tackles.
The Buckeye defense is Top 10 nationally in both passing yards allowed (5th; 163.9) and pass efficiency defense (9th; 101.1 rating). The team is 13th nationally in total defense.
