Projected to once again return to the starting lineup at one of the outside linebacking positions for the third consecutive year if comeback is completed from a second off-season shoulder surgical procedure ... A preseason All-Conference USA selection by Phil Steele Magazine ... Missed spring drills for the second straight year because of the injury and subsequent rehabilitation work ... Has developed into one of the program[apos]s top defenders despite suffering through an injury-riddled first three seasons ... Mixes plenty of athleticism, quickness and tenacity with an unmatched level of toughness and resiliency ... Played through significant pain, turning down surgery suggestion midway during junior season to finish year and help Pirates to bowl victory.
2007: An All-Conference USA selection (honorable mention) by league coaches ... Started 12 of 13 games played (11 at OLB, 1 MLB) ... Ranked second on the team with 97 total tackles (45 solo, 52 assists) ... Led the defensive unit six times in total tackles (11/UNC, 9/UTEP, 11/NCSU, 6/UAB, 8/Tulane and 9/BSU) ... Set a new career-high with 12 stops against Houston ... Recorded at least seven tackles in seven games ... Had 17-game starting streak snapped against UTEP ... Part of a unit that held four opponents to 80 yards or less rushing (VT/33, UNC/79, NCSU/49, Memphis/77) ... Ranked among conference leaders (20th) with 7.5 tackles per game ... Picked off two passes (VT/0 yards and Houston/13 yards) ... vs. Va. Tech (9/1): Recorded five tackles (two solo, three assists) ... Picked off his third career pass on the Hokies[apos] first offensive possession of the game ... vs. UNC (9/8): Led all Pirates with 11 total stops (three solo, eight assists) ... vs. USM (9/15): Collected seven total tackles (three solo, four assists) ... vs. WVU (9/22): Recorded six total tackles (two solo, four assists) ... Had one TFL (-1 yard) ... vs. Houston (9/29): Established a new career-high with 12 total tackles (six solo, six assists) finishing second on the team behind Quentin Cotton (14) ... Picked off second pass of the season returning it 13 yards to close out the first quarter ... vs. UCF (10/6): Tallied three total stops (solo, two assists) ... Credited with one TFL (-2 yards) and two QBHs ... vs. UTEP (10/13): Recorded a team-best nine total stops (seven solo, two assists) ... Credited with one forced fumble setting up Van Eskridge[apos]s 50-yard return for a TD, the first score of the game for the Pirates ... vs. N.C. State (10/20): Led team with 11 total tackles (three solo, eight assists) ... Credited with one QBH ... vs. UAB (10/27): Tied for the team lead with six total stops (two solo, four assists) ... Credited with a half TFL (-1 yard) ... Helped hold the Blazers to 296 yards of total offense, the second-lowest of the season (VT/278) ... vs. Memphis (11/3): Recorded three total tackles (all assists) ... Credited with one pass breakup ... Key member of defensive unit that held the Tigers to 77 rushing yards ... vs. Marshall (11/10): Credited with seven total tackles (three solo, four assists) in 10th start of the season ... vs. Tulane (11/24): Tied for the team lead with eight tackles (four solo, four assists) ... Had 1.5 TFLs (-3 yards) ... Also credited with one pass breakup ... vs. Boise State (12/23): Led all Pirate tacklers with nine total stops (solo) ... Had one TFL for (-2 yards) ... Helped defensive unit hold the Broncos to just 98 rushing yards.
2006: Bounced back from foot (spring) and shoulder (fall) injuries to start all 11 games played at outside linebacker ... Stood third on the team with 66 total tackles (38 solo and 28 assists) ... Finished as top tackler on two occasions (nine vs. SMU, eight vs. UCF) ... Ranked 31st in Conference USA in tackles per game (5.4) ... Booked three-and-half tackles for lost yardage (Memphis, SMU, UCF and USF) ... Was listed as one of three starting linebackers on preseason depth charts but injured shoulder during final preseason scrimmage ... Cleared for contact by medical staff 9/10 and placed on active squad ... Started 11 consecutive games at outside linebacker to complete the season beginning against Memphis (9/16) ... vs. Navy (9/2): DNP-INJ (shoulder) ... vs. UAB (9/9): DNP-INJ (shoulder) ... vs. Memphis (9/16): Returned to starting lineup, collecting seven tackles (three solo) ... Had one TFL (-4 yards) on a 1st-and-10 play in the second quarter ... Also logged a pass break-up ... vs. WVU (9/23): Six tackles (four solo) ... vs. UVA (10/7): Six stops (three solo) and a pass breakup ... vs. Tulsa (10/14): Recorded first career fumble recovery in third quarter ... Eight tackles (seven solo) ... vs. SMU (10/21): Posted a team-best nine total tackles (four solo) ... Collaborated with Mark Robinson on a sack of Justin Willis in the first quarter (second of career) ... vs. USM (10/28): Helped anchored a defense that allowed just 180 yards of total offense ... Four tackles (two solo) in eighth career start ... vs. UCF (11/4): Topped Pirates with eight tackles (five solo) during win at the Florida Citrus Bowl ... Notched one TFL for one yard and was credited with two quarterback hurries ... vs. Marshall (11/11): Five stops (two solo), ranking second behind FS Pierre Parker ... Also credited with one pass break-up ... vs. Rice (11/18): Five tackles (three solo) ... vs. N.C. State (11/25): Four tackles, two coming as solo hits ... Helped unit allow just 293 total yards of offense, the third-lowest by an opponent in 2006 ... vs. USF (12/23): Five stops (four solo) in Papajohns.com Bowl ... Posted tackle for loss in the second quarter, stopping USF[apos]s Taurus Johnson for a two-yard loss after a screen pass.
2005: Played in all 11 games and earned starting nod ahead of Josh Chilsom in last two games of season (Marshall, UAB) ... In fact, booked a combined 17 stops against Thundering Herd (career-high 11) and Blazers (six) ... Also finished with three tackles for lost yardage (Duke, West Virginia, SMU) and one sack (SMU) ... Picked off a pair of Darrell Hackney passes in season finale against UAB and racked up 22 return yards ... Tallied tackle totals in nine of 11 games played (four multiples) ... vs. Duke (9/3): Recorded one tackle in collegiate debut against the Blue Devils ... vs. Wake Forest (9/17): Registered one stop off bench against the Demon Deacons... vs. WVU (9/24): Booked three tackles (two solo), while also stopping the Mountaineer Jason Colson for a two-yard loss (TFL) ... vs. USM (10/1): Recorded one solo tackle against the Golden Eagles ... Broke up a Dustin Almond pass for his first pass breakup of the season ... vs. Rice (10/8): Appeared as a reserve in the Pirates[apos] linebacking rotation to record an assisted tackle ... vs. SMU (10/15): Recorded first career sack in the second quarter with a six-yard drop of Jared Romo ... Also forced first career fumble against Mustangs ... Posted multiple (three) tackle total for second time of season ... Replaced Chris Moore in all nickel and dime pass defensive packages ... vs. Memphis (10/22): Experienced ample playing time off the bench but did not record any statistics ... vs. UCF (10/29): Tallied one tackle in a reserve role against the Golden Knights ... vs. Tulsa (11/12): Featured prominently in ECU[apos]s pass defense set but did not record any statistics ... vs. Marshall (11/19): Made most of first career start with a then team-high 11 stops (10 solo hits) ... Made three stops in a pivotal fourth quarter which helped the Pirates rally past the Thundering Herd for a 34-29 victory ... Also knocked down a pass attempt ... vs. UAB (11/26): Wrapped up season with a six-tackle effort against the Blazers at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium ... Made four solo stops and was credited with three pass defense stats - a break-up and two interceptions ... Last pick snuffed out a potential game-tying UAB drive at the ECU 45-yard line late in the fourth quarter.
2004: Spent first college season on developmental roster as a redshirt ... Originally signed with the ECU program as a highly-touted running back in February, 2004 before making move to the defensive side of the ball.
High School: Rated as 34th-best prospect in North Carolina by SuperPrep Magazine ... Ran for 1,642 yards and scored 17 touchdowns during senior campaign as team captain to earn all-state designation and conference player-of-the-year honors ... Helped guide West Craven to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the 3-A finals ... A three-year all-conference performer who led the Eagles to a trio of conference titles with a combined record of 38-6 record ... Also recorded five interceptions as a defensive standout in 2003 ... Selected to participate in the prestigious Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas ... Also picked up additional letters in basketball and track.
Personal: Full name is Alton Pierre Bell ... Born February 23, 1986 at New Bern, N.C. ... Major is communications.
