Benedictine's Derrell Bedingfield thrives in N-H Senior Bowl for Blue team
Jun. 17—Derell Bedingfield is a problem on the defense no matter the situation.
That didn't change in The News-Herald Senior Bowl, presented by Hooley House, on June 17 at Mayfield when the Blue team linebacker caused havoc early and often against the White team.
While he already knew his career would continue at the collegiate level — Bedingfield has signed with Toledo — the recent Benedictine graduate wanted more than anything to lace up his cleats with his Bengals teammates.
"It was fun to get out here with my former teammates for one last ride before I head off to college," said Bedingfield. "Seeing how much Ohio talent there is, it was a fun last ride before I head off to college."
Bedingfield made an immediate impression on Blue team head coach and Harvey coach Mick Mohner. As the game drew closer, Mohner knew that he had his defensive leader and was ready to roll with him.
PHOTOS: News-Herald Senior Bowl, June 17, 2022
"It all started pregame, you could tell that his energy was a little different than anyone else," said Mohner. "He was able to juice up our team early and was a guy that we saw on Sunday or Monday that could make all the tackles and read very well. When you get a guy on the defense that is as vocal as Derell, it can impact the offense. We saw that today as he helped create some false starts and fumbles through the game. "
The short window between practice and game time was a new situation for Bedingfield, with a little under a week from first practice to game day. But in that span, he knew that chemistry would play a critical role if the Blue team wanted to win.
Early in the game, Bedingfield and his teammates were giving the White team fits as they flew all around the field. As the game wore on, Bedingfield found ways to make play after play that kept his team in striking distance.
It was one last go around for Derrell Bedingfield, and the @BENE_ATHLETICS grad is happy to have been able to play with his teammates one last time before he heads to Toledo #NHFootball pic.twitter.com/WU6pk5OzC7
— Ben Hercik (@BHercikNH) June 18, 2022
"We only had about a week of practice. But I've been playing this game since I was 6," said Bedingfield. "I was able to feed off of my teammates and their instincts. The past 10-11 years that I've been playing, this was a great cherry on top of everything."
While Bedingfield's leadership wasn't enough to get the Blue team a win — the White team won 23-20 — his work as a defensive leader in the Senior Bowl will be something he can build on when he takes the campus at Toledo.
Despite having compiled a season that saw him record 74 tackles and three for loss. Yet this was his first all-star game before heading to college. And Bedingfield wouldn't want it to be any other way, in arms with his teammates.
Bedingfield finished with a game high eight tackles.
"This is my first all-star game, I was actually complaining that I hadn't had an invite to an all-star game here yet," said Bedingfield. "I was getting invites from places like Las Vegas and Florida, but I wanted more than anything to do it one more time here. To finally get the game in with the guys from all around the Cleveland area was a great experience and it's on to Toledo now."
