Penn State linebackers returned in a big way

As Penn State linebackers Brandon Bell and Jason Cabinda prepared to return to action after missing more than a month with injuries, their coach, James Franklin, figured that each would be on the field for 25 to 30 plays.

However, with Beaver Stadium ready to be shaken from its foundation thanks to a "whiteout" crowd of more than 107,000, and the Nittany Lions primed to deliver what many felt to be the upset of the 2016 college football season Saturday night against No. 2 Ohio State, the predictions about how long Bell and Cabinda would play were shredded up like so much confetti.

Bell, a senior cocaptain from Oakcrest High in South Jersey, played 69 snaps, according to Franklin. He took part in 19 tackles and was honored as the defensive player of the week in the Big Ten. While there was no play count announced for Cabinda, a junior who had 12 tackles, he hardly took any breaks.

"It was everything, honestly, just to be out there and back up your teammates," Bell said Wednesday. "My teammates are the only thing that kept me sane the last few weeks. Obviously it was big for the team, seeing their leaders, both leaders. Guys were always asking, 'When are you coming back? When are you coming back?' It was like five weeks [out]. It was an awfully big deal."

Franklin, speaking Wednesday at his weekly teleconference, said the impact of the return of his two veteran linebackers was enormous.

"I don't know if you can put a number on it, or a percentage on it, or even kind of explain," he said. "Their leadership at practice, their energy, the way they call the defense, the way they make adjustments. It's just their control and command of the defense was significant. I think it helps all the other players . . . just the confidence with those guys on the field because they're able to lean on their experience."

Bell's injury was never revealed by the team. Cabinda played with a cast on his left hand to protect a broken thumb, and said teammate Jake Cooper suggested a thumbs-up sign every time he made a tackle.

"The thumbs-up was funny," Cabinda said. "The thumb can be kind of tough at times. But I just can't think about it, just kind of play and whatever happens, happens."

The Nittany Lions (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten), who travel to Purdue on Saturday, have experienced a rash of injuries at linebacker. Nyeem Wartman-White, the third starter in preseason along with Cabinda and Bell, and backup Jan Johnson are out for the season. Cooper, an Archbishop Wood product, did not play Saturday because of an injury.

However, the backup linebackers, especially Manny Bowen, Brandon Smith, Koa Farmer, and freshman Cameron Brown, have not performed like inexperienced players. Cabinda was happy to see that from the sidelines.

"I just couldn't wait to get back out there, seeing the young guys making the kind of plays they were making," he said. "Brandon Smith was huge. Jake Cooper stepped up, Cam Brown, Manny Bowen. All of those guys were so willing to learn and so willing to step up and make big plays. The pride of Linebacker U. is so great. We all know that the expectation doesn't change regardless of who's in there."

Bell and Cabinda said they tried to stay positive while sidelined, and both were like coaches tutoring the younger players in meetings, at practice and during games.

But now that they're healthy enough to be playing again, there's a lot of excitement, especially with the wave of confidence an upset of Ohio State has brought.

"I realized [while out] that nothing really affects me the way football does," Bell said. "Nothing makes me more sad. Nothing makes me more happy."

jjuliano@phillynews.com

@joejulesinq