UCF has made major improvements to its pass defense in the two seasons Corey Bell has handled the Knights’ cornerbacks.
Bell joined the UCF football staff as cornerbacks coach in December 2017 and completed his second season in that role in 2019.
The Knights have improved dramatically in that time, bettering their passing yards ranking by 83 spots over the last two years. UCF was 26th in 2019 (at 199.5 yards per game, best at UCF since 2014) after allowing 331.8 yards per contest in the season before Bell arrived (the Knights ranked 115th in 2017). In addition, the UCF corners played a role in helping the Knights lead the nation in tackles for loss in 2019 (9.0 per game), while also ranking third nationally in pass efficiency defense.
Bell played an integral role as the Knights completed an undefeated regular season in 2018, ultimately winning their second straight American Athletic Conference Championship and earning a bid to the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Then in 2019, UCF produced a 10-3 campaign, good for a program-record fourth consecutive postseason appearance, winning the 2019 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.
The UCF defense had a stellar 2018 campaign, allowing just 22.7 points per game and ranking sixth in the nation with 28 forced turnovers. The Knights racked up 8.2 tackles for loss per game, fifth most in the nation, and had 29 sacks. Second-half adjustments proved key to the Knights’ success, as opponents scored just 8.5 points over the final two periods, including 3.3 points per third quarter.
Under Bell’s leadership, both UCF starting cornerbacks earned all-conference honors in 2018, as Nevelle Clarke garnered first-team honors and Brandon Moore received honorable mention accolades. Clarke had 46 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions--and led the Knights with 13 pass breakups. Moore, meanwhile, added 43 tackles, one interception and 10 pass breakups.
In 2019 Clarke contributed 22 tackles and a pair of interceptions while leading the team for a second straight year in pass breakups (with 11). After Moore suffered a season-ending injury in the Knights’ opening game, Tay Gowan stepped in to make 31 tackles, a pair of interceptions and eight pass breakups. Aaron Robinson held down the nickel corner position all season, recording 54 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups and three interceptions. Clarke received honorable mention all-AAC recognition for 2019, while Robinson was named second-team all-AAC and was an honorable mention All-America selection by Pro Football Focus.
Bell came to UCF from the University of Florida, where he tutored two Gators to second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors following the 2017 season. Bell also spent time in 2017 on the staff at South Florida.
From 2014-16, Bell served as secondary coach and assistant director of player personnel at Florida Atlantic. Bell coached three Owls to four All-Conference USA honors (three honorable mention, one second team). One of Bell’s protégés at Florida Atlantic became just the sixth Owls player to be selected in the NFL Draft in 2015.
Bell has head coaching experience in the high school ranks. He led American High School in Miami from 2011-13, winning three straight district titles. He was also the head coach at Miami Edison High School from 1997-2007—as the youngest head coach in Florida when he assumed that role. Bell was the defensive backs coach at Edison in 1996. During his tenure at Edison, Bell coached 84 student-athletes to NCAA Division I scholarships and tutored six All-America performers.
Bell served as the director of football operations at the University of Miami from 2007-10 under Shannon. He is a 1995 graduate of South Carolina and holds a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University (2000).
Bell joined the UCF football staff as cornerbacks coach in December 2017 and completed his second season in that role in 2019.
The Knights have improved dramatically in that time, bettering their passing yards ranking by 83 spots over the last two years. UCF was 26th in 2019 (at 199.5 yards per game, best at UCF since 2014) after allowing 331.8 yards per contest in the season before Bell arrived (the Knights ranked 115th in 2017). In addition, the UCF corners played a role in helping the Knights lead the nation in tackles for loss in 2019 (9.0 per game), while also ranking third nationally in pass efficiency defense.
Bell played an integral role as the Knights completed an undefeated regular season in 2018, ultimately winning their second straight American Athletic Conference Championship and earning a bid to the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Then in 2019, UCF produced a 10-3 campaign, good for a program-record fourth consecutive postseason appearance, winning the 2019 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.
The UCF defense had a stellar 2018 campaign, allowing just 22.7 points per game and ranking sixth in the nation with 28 forced turnovers. The Knights racked up 8.2 tackles for loss per game, fifth most in the nation, and had 29 sacks. Second-half adjustments proved key to the Knights’ success, as opponents scored just 8.5 points over the final two periods, including 3.3 points per third quarter.
Under Bell’s leadership, both UCF starting cornerbacks earned all-conference honors in 2018, as Nevelle Clarke garnered first-team honors and Brandon Moore received honorable mention accolades. Clarke had 46 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions--and led the Knights with 13 pass breakups. Moore, meanwhile, added 43 tackles, one interception and 10 pass breakups.
In 2019 Clarke contributed 22 tackles and a pair of interceptions while leading the team for a second straight year in pass breakups (with 11). After Moore suffered a season-ending injury in the Knights’ opening game, Tay Gowan stepped in to make 31 tackles, a pair of interceptions and eight pass breakups. Aaron Robinson held down the nickel corner position all season, recording 54 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups and three interceptions. Clarke received honorable mention all-AAC recognition for 2019, while Robinson was named second-team all-AAC and was an honorable mention All-America selection by Pro Football Focus.
Bell came to UCF from the University of Florida, where he tutored two Gators to second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors following the 2017 season. Bell also spent time in 2017 on the staff at South Florida.
From 2014-16, Bell served as secondary coach and assistant director of player personnel at Florida Atlantic. Bell coached three Owls to four All-Conference USA honors (three honorable mention, one second team). One of Bell’s protégés at Florida Atlantic became just the sixth Owls player to be selected in the NFL Draft in 2015.
Bell has head coaching experience in the high school ranks. He led American High School in Miami from 2011-13, winning three straight district titles. He was also the head coach at Miami Edison High School from 1997-2007—as the youngest head coach in Florida when he assumed that role. Bell was the defensive backs coach at Edison in 1996. During his tenure at Edison, Bell coached 84 student-athletes to NCAA Division I scholarships and tutored six All-America performers.
Bell served as the director of football operations at the University of Miami from 2007-10 under Shannon. He is a 1995 graduate of South Carolina and holds a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University (2000).