Husker Corner
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Ameer Abdullah & Kenny Bell Senior Day profiles

By Kelli Anne

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Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

It’s HUSKER Saturday and you could say it was an accident that I saved the best Seniors for last but it wouldn’t be true. Probably two of the most memorable players for Nebraska will take the field today, Ameer Abdullah and Kenny Bell. Both will go down in the history books and in the hearts of the Husker fans.

#8

is one of nine children from Homewood, Alabama. There is a special guy behind the jersey. In early October he was featured on College Gameday. .

The memory I’ll take with me from his career is how he stays in touch with Rex Burkhead and how their relationship grew. Not a bad mentor to have. “I knew right away that he had the potential to great things.” Rex talking about Ameer. “Rex was the perfect guy to follow…he did everything the right way off the field and in the community, and the classroom and on the field obviously.” Ameer talking about Rex.

Ameer Abdullah “put the team on his back” and won the McNeese State game with his catch and 58 yard tackle breaking run. He’s been called the running back with the “it” factor from sportswriter Michael Bruntz. He garnered a career-high at the time 313 all purpose yards against Miami. Against Northwestern he posted a career high 4 touchdowns. When Rutgers came to town he ended the day with 341 all purpose yards and a school record performance.

Abdullah surpassed the 4,000 career rushing yards in the Northwestern game and is in the company of Mike Rozier with that milestone. For the 3rd straight season Ameer has topped 1,000 yards rushing and is the FIRST Husker to have 3 seasons with 1,000 yards! He has crushed Johnny Rodgers’ all purpose yards record with 6,700 and counting. Only Ron Dayne in the Big 10 has more all purpose yards.

Besides all the stats, he’s a great guy. Our “AA” as his Heisman campaign batteries call him, is a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s top running back. This is the second straight season he has done so. The winner will be announced Thursday December 11th on ESPN. He is also one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award.

He probably won’t win the Heisman and that’s a shame but he’ll go down in Husker history as one of the best.

#80 Kenny Bell, a lanky guy from Boulder, Colorado has been in the starting rotation all of his past four seasons. Goofy and outgoing is how he characterizes himself. But there’s nothing goofy about 36 receptions this season and counting. He surpassed Johnny Rodgers’ career receiving yardage total in the game last week to 2,492 yards (and counting). I’m going miss the flair and charisma of #80. I will always remember how the crowd CHEERS his amazing catches and touchdowns, and how when there were times that he might have been injured on the field, there was a deafening silence in a stadium of over 91,000.

Joe Flannigan-Albion News

I have actually run into Kenny a couple of times. The first time he even had enough time for a photo. He’s a genuine character and I think I’ll be seeing him on Sundays. You’ve seen the “throw to the fro” shirts and those abs at Spring game.

“The Fro” as he’s affectionately known, has led the Cornhuskers in reception for each of the past 3 seasons and on track to make it 4. He is the 1st player in school history with four 30-catch seasons! He’s also had the most starts in school history by an offensive player and 2nd most for a position player.

You may have noticed that tattered blue shirt underneath his uniform. He wears it at every practice and game as a tribute to the Nebraska walk-ons and scout team players. He started on the Scout team and they wore blue jerseys. During those scout days, he played and learned his techniques against corners like Alfonzo Dennard, Dejon Gomes and Prince Amukamara (all in the NFL now). Can you think of a better set of real life coaches?

Don’t forget

Kenny Bell

can block too. Who could forget the game where he blocked # 10 for Wisconsin allowing Jamal Turner to score a touchdown. He was flagged on the play but slow motion replay shows it was a legal hit.

I didn’t know Ken Bell, #80’s father, played for the Denver Broncos from 86-89. Kenny is majoring in ethnic studies and Named to the Nebraska Scholar-athlete Honor Roll in the Spring of 2014, 2010 Big 12 Fall Academic Honor Roll and has a list of volunteer efforts on his resume.

I wish both of these AMAZING kids well in their future and will forever remember their contributions to the Nebraska Cornhuskers and their fans.  Thanks for the memories guys!

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