College Football Network recently released their preseason All-American honors for the 2024 season, with five Texas State Bobcats players receiving national attention. Which standouts from San Marcos were singled out for significant praise ahead of the 2024 college football campaign? Let’s find out!
Which Texas State Players Earned CFN All-American Honors?
While most of the Bobcats’ honorees are on offense, EDGE Ben Bell leads the group from the defensive side of the ball.
Listed at 6’2″, 250 pounds, he’s registered 25 tackles for a loss and 15.5 sacks in four collegiate seasons. He’s earned accolades in two conferences: the 2021 All-CUSA freshman team at Louisiana Tech and the 2023 All-Sun Belt second team.
At both Ruston and San Marcos, he played with his brother, Levi Bell, who recently signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Levi was on the Seattle Seahawks before being cut last preseason, leading to a stint in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers.
“I played with (Levi) when he was a senior in high school, and we’ve just always enjoyed playing with each other,” Ben said in 2022 about playing with his brother. “We’ve always been best friends since we’ve been little kids. Having this opportunity to play together has been real wild. You can’t really explain it. Not a lot of people can do that with their brother, and I’m just blessed that I am.”
With 25 tackles for a loss and 15.5 sacks in four collegiate seasons, Bell is gearing up for his final season, and hoping to join his brother in the NFL. Here’s what CFN’s Bryan Brown had to say about Ben Bell:
Ben Bell, EDGE (Third-Team All-American)
Despite splitting time and starting only seven games, Ben Bell set Texas State’s FBS program records with 16 TFLs and 10 sacks. He could not be stopped when on the field, and with several upperclassmen off the depth chart, Bell’s playing time will only increase. Sun Belt QBs better buckle their chin straps because their bells will be ringing against Texas State.
Full List of Texas State Players Earning CFN All-American Honors
- Ben Bell, EDGE (Third-Team All-American)
- Ismail Mahdi, RB (Honorable Mention All-American)
- Telleck Lockette, G(Honorable Mention All-American)
- Mason Shipley, K (Honorable Mention All-American)
- Joey Hobert, WR (Honorable Mention All-American)