VALDOSTA — A freshman year spent playing special teams is paying off for Akron rising sophomore Brian Bell.

The former Lowndes High star was utilized by the Zips on special teams last fall as they went 8-5 and earned a berth in the Potato Bowl where they downed Utah State. Now as Akron winds down its spring practice period with a spring game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Bell is in line to earn a starting spot on the Zips’ defense.

That is a credit to the adjustment period he earned a year ago, Bell said in a phone interview Wednesday.

“Being on special teams, I got used to the speed and that was the main thing coming up here, playing D-1 ball, it’s just the speed to everything is so much different than high school,” he said. “But I got used to it on special teams, on kickoff and kickoff returns and stuff like that.

“Being on defense, it wasn’t too hard to adjust to the playing style on defense.”

Helping Bell, who made four tackles while playing in 12 of Akron’s 13 games mainly on those special team units, make that transition to defensive starter has been the coaching he has received from Chuck Amato, Akron’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach who also serves as the associate head coach on Terry Bowden’s staff. Amato is a former head coach at North Carolina State and was a longtime Florida State assistant.

In particular, Bell said Amato has been instrumental in improving the 6-foot-3, 218-pounder’s technique with both his hands and his feet as he has been listed as Akron’s starter at SAM linebacker.

“In my feet, definitely just driving through the tackle with my feet, getting off blocks with my hands, using my hands a lot more,” Bell said. “Coach Amato has taught us how to use our hands really good and get off blocks really good. That’s two things that I’ve really gotten better at.”

The rest of Bell’s transition from high school standout to special teams performer to defensive starter has been mental. Instead of just reacting and just flying to the football, he is striving to learn his fit in Akron’s defensive scheme.

“Just to be smart on the field,” he said. “It’s not all see ball, get ball. Getting in the film room and watch film a lot to know like the back of your hand what to do on the field.”

Once Bell and the rest of a youthful Akron defensive unit accomplish that, Bell is excited about what the fall campaign holds, even if there is still work to be done before the Zips open Sept. 3 against Virginia Military Institute.

“Get bigger, faster and stronger,” he said about the offseason goals. “Be mentally prepared with my defense.

“There’s always room for improvement. We have one of the best coaches in the nation to do that. There’s definitely room for improvement and I think we’ll get there.”

Jamie Wachter is the sports editor of the Valdosta Daily Times and can be followed on Twitter @jlwachter.