TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State sophomore Shakir Bell has earned his third First Team All-America honor for 2011 as he has been named a First Team All-American by The Sports Network. Bell is joined by senior Alex Sewall, who was a Second Team All-America selection while Ben Obaseki picked up his second All-American honor of the year by being named to the third team.

Bell is the first Sycamore to ever be named a First Team All-American multiple times during the same season in the history of the Indiana State football program. He is the first Sycamore to earn a trio of All-America mentions in the same season since Dan Brandenburg (1st Team The Sports Network, 3rd Team Associated Press, Honorable Mention Dan Hansen Football Gazette) in 1995.

Additionally, the Sycamores have not had three different players named an All-American during the same season since Dietrich Lapsley, Soso Dede and Richard Harris took home those honors in 2002. This year marks just the fifth time in the history of the Indiana State program (2011, 2002, 2001, 1997 and 1995) that three different Sycamores have earned All-America honors in the same season.

Bell, who is one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, has already earned First Team All-America honors by the American Football Coaches Association and the America Football Coaches Association this year. He was also named First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference as well as the MVFC Offensive Player Of The Year. Bell led the nation in rushing with 1,670 total yards and a 151.8 per game average. His 1,670 yards this season broke the school record for single-season rushing yards and rank eighth in league history. Bell also broke the single-game rushing record when he rushed for 256 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries in ISU's victory over Youngstown State on Sept. 24. Those 256 yards against the Penguins are the 12th highest single-game total in MVFC history. For the year, Bell hit the end zone 14 times.

Sewall, who earlier was named a Capital One First Team Academic All-American earlier, is a Second Team All-American selection by The Sports Network. He ranked third in the MVFC in solo tackles and fourth in total stops, while placing 24th nationally with an average on 10.4 tackles per game. He tied for the conference lead with three recovered fumbles, while making double-digit tackles in eight games this season, including a season-high of 17 against Western Illinois. Sewall finished his career with 358 career tackles, good for sixth in Indiana State history.

Obaseki earned his first career All-American honor from the Associated Press earlier this season and was a third team selection by The Sports Network.. He has already been named a First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection. He finished third in the MVFC's Defensive Player of the Year voting after leading the Sycamores with 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss this season, tying for second and third in the MVFC, respectively, in those categories. Obaseki turned in one of the best defensive performances in MVFC history against Western Illinois on Oct. 15, recording 22 tackles (seven solo, 15 assisted) with four tackles for loss and three sacks. His 22 tackles against the Leathernecks are the most in conference history by a defensive lineman. The ISU junior was also in impact player in goal line situations, rushing the ball five times for five touchdowns.

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries selected the All-America Teams based only on the regular season.