3  Shaq Bell Class: Senior Hometown: Kissimmee, Fla. High School: Osceola Height / Weight: 5-11 / 195 Position: CB Experience: 3L

2012 (Junior): Shaq Bell moved into the starting lineup early in the season and continued to get better every week. He had four takeaways (3 fumble recoveries and one interception) to go with 66 tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack and three tackles for loss. He played every position in the secondary for the Rams.

• The conference office named him a honorable mention all-Mountain West performer and his teammates recognized him a one of four captains for the season.
• In the season-opener vs. Colorado (Sept. 1), logged seven tackles, six of which were solo, while helping a CSU secondary hold CU's Jordan Webb to only 187 yards pass and keeping the Buffaloes rushing attack to 58 yards.
• Started the game at nickel but moved to cornerback when Bernard Blake suffered a hamstring injury prior to North Dakota State (Sept. 8) game. In his 16^th career start was second on the team with ten tackles, his second double-digit tackle effort of his career.
• In arguably the best game of his career racked up six tackles at home against Utah State (Sept. 22), as well as recording an interception, forced fumble, and fumble recovery on three separate possessions. He became the first Ram with two takeaways in the same game since Mychal Sisson on Nov. 6, 2011.
• Was voted by his teammates as a weekly defensive captain prior to the Air Force game (Sept. 29).
• Although he didn't record any tackles against Fresno State (Oct. 6) he helped limit one of the nation's top passing offenses to a season-low 217 yards passing. The Bulldogs averaged 322.6 yards through the air during the 2012 season.
• At Wyoming (Nov. 3) recorded his first career sack.
• In the Rams 33-11 home win over UNLV (Nov. 10) recorded five tackles and scooped up a fumble on the first play of the second quarter, returning it 30 yards for his first career touchdown. To begin this UNLV possession, Bell downed a punt at the Rebels two-yardline. This performance earned him an honorable mention from the College Football Performance Awards as National Defensive Back of the Week.

2011 (Sophomore): A true sophomore, played in all 12 games, with six starts, compiling 47 tackles (30 solo), five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick...A true sophomore that started nine games in 2010, had opened the year in a key reserve role after Elijah-Blu Smith moved from safety to cornerback, then replaced Smith (shoulder) in the lineup over the second half of the season...In season-opening win at New Mexico (Sept. 3), played most of the game, including action on the first series; late in the contest, with CSU protecting a 14-10 lead, drew a key holding penalty to negate a first down, then one play later blanketed Deon Long in the corner of the end zone...In 38-31 loss vs. San Jose State (Oct. 1), pounced on a Chandler Jones fumble at the Spartans' 33-yard line late in the first half, setting up a CSU touchdown that cut the Rams' deficit to 24-14...In loss vs. No. 5 Boise State (Oct. 15), broke up a third-down pass to force a punt early in the second half...In loss at UTEP (Oct. 22), made his first start of the season, in place of Elijah-Blu Smith (shoulder) and posted a team-leading seven tackles; midway through the first quarter, recovered his second fumble of the season, pouncing on a loose ball at the UTEP 48, punched out of the arms of RB Joe Banyard by DE Nordly Capi...Later in Miners contest, broke up a fourth-quarter pass in the end zone, making a nice play in one-on-one coverage...Also started in loss at UNLV (Oct. 29) and with 4:13 remaining in game and CSU trailing 31-28, blocked a field goal deep in Rebels territory, which after a 61-yard Austin Gray return set up a go-ahead Rams touchdown; became the first CSU player to block a FG since Darryl Williams in a 31-27 CSU win at UNLV, Nov. 19, 2005...In windy, 18-15 loss vs. San Diego State (Nov. 12), broke up two Ryan Lindley passes, one on fourth down to end a third-quarter possession with the Rams trailing, 15-7, the other on third-and-8 with just under six minutes remaining in the game, a 15-15 tie...In loss vs. Air Force (Nov. 26), provided blanket coverage on an incomplete pass into the end zone to force the Falcons to settle for a second-quarter field goal...In season finale vs. Wyoming (Dec. 3), wasn't fooled by a razzle-dazzle play and nearly intercepted Trey Norman's fourth-quarter pass on what could've been a touchdown return.

2010 (Freshman): Just out of high school, earned a spot in the Rams' cornerback rotation out of fall camp and played in all 12 games, with nine starts (the season's final nine contests)...Posted 39 tackles (27 solo) and shared one stop for loss...One of seven true freshmen to play for CSU in the season-opener vs. Colorado (Sept. 4), picked up early experience in the secondary...Saw extensive playing time at cornerback at Nevada (Sept. 11), playing most of the game in place of Momo Thomas (shoulder); wound up leading the team with the first 10 tackles of his career...The performance earned him his first career start one week later, at Miami-Ohio (Sept. 18), in place of Thomas...In loss vs. No. 5 TCU (Oct. 2), again made the start, replacing an injured Thomas (shoulder surgery), and contributed to an impressive defensive effort...In 43-10 win vs. UNLV (Oct. 16), made a nice play to combine with Alex Williams after a first-quarter completion, throwing RB Tim Cornett for a 5-yard loss...On consecutive third-quarter plays in 38-14 win vs. New Mexico (Oct. 30), nearly intercepted a pass, then shot through a blocker on an option pitch to take out the legs of Kasey Carrier for no gain...Demonstrated strong run-support skills at SDSU (Nov. 6), dropping the MWC's leading rusher, Ronnie Hillman, for no gain in the first quarter; also helped limit the MWC's leading passer, Ryan Lindley, to a season-low 171 yards, as the Rams blanked the league's leading two receivers, DeMarco Sampson and Vincent Brown, over the game's first two quarters...Missed practice time with a sprained ankle, but still started vs. BYU (Nov. 13)...At Wyoming (Nov. 20), combined with Mike Orakpo on a first-quarter completion to hold Alvester Alexander to no gain on fourth-and-1, giving the Rams possession at their own 34; later in the quarter, his blanket coverage in the end zone prevented an early TD pass.

High School: A three-year letterman at Kissimmee-Osceola High School south of Orlando, helped the Kowboys to a 30-10 record over his final three seasons...Played in a senior class that included three D-I signees, including two defensive teammates, a DB expected to sign with Georgia, and DE expected to sign with Louisville... Rated by the Orlando Sentinel the No. 21 overall prospect and No. 6 DB in the Central Florida region...Helped guide his team to the second round of the state playoffs each of his final two years, after a District 4 title and berth in the Florida Class 5A state championship as a sophomore...Replaced his former prep teammate, CSU CB Momo Thomas, as Osceola's do-everything playmaker from 2008-09...A two-year starter, played primarily cornerback and running back...Earned consecutive all-district honors in 2008 and 2009, and all-county recognition as a senior...Started every game in 2009, totaling 39 tackles, one for a Kowboys safety, and six passes broken up, as well as one blocked punt...Also started every contest as a junior, when the Kowboys were 8-4; had 53 tackles, one interception and six PBUs...Head football coach was Jeff Rolson...Also ran track for the Kowboys...Owned a 3.14 GPA...Had 4.51-second speed in the 40-yard dash.

Personal: Given name Shaquille C. Bell...Nicknamed Shaq and Kisti...Born Aug. 27, 1992, in Kissimmee, Fla. ...Mother is Bertia Williams... Has an older sister ...Older brother, T'Sharvan, is a DB at Auburn, helping the Tigers capture the BCS national championship after the '10 season...Momo Thomas, his teammate again at Colorado State, also considers him a brother, having grown up with him...All three contributed to a district title and berth in the Florida Class 5A state championship in 2007...Cousin, Bobby Sippio, played at Western Kentucky, in the Arena League, and with the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions...Before the 2011 season, spent time with less-fortunate kids, assisting with summer programs at the Harmony Mobile Home Park...Helped orchestrate Math Night at Fort Collins' Bauder Elementary, working with youngsters to help them learn math, in February 2011...Majoring in liberal arts at Colorado State...Hometown: Kissimmee, Fla.