Quenton Bode

Quenton Bode

No. 42 – New Orleans Second Line
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(2006-08-22)August 22, 2006 (aged 56) Anchorage, Alaska
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:	Eagle River High School
College:	University of Nebraska
ISFL Draft:	2030 (S15) / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
DSFL Draft:	2029 (S14) / Round: 3 / Pick: 4
Career history
Central Grizzlies, San Antonio Marshals
Roster status:	Active

Quenton Bode (born January 22, 2008) is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Second Line of the National Simulation Football League. He played college football for University of Nebraska, and played one season with the San Antonio Marshals of the Developmental Simulation Football League.

Early years

Not much is known about Quenton Bode's early years. It is believed that while he was still a cub, his mother fled south in search of food and better living conditions, and the two were somehow separated.

He was found on the outskirts of Anchorage by Robert and Martha Bode, a human couple. Neither had much knowledge about polar bears--Robert was an editor at a local newspaper, and Martha taught biology at a nearby high school--but they took him in anyway. After caring for the young polar bear cub for several months, they decided to raise him as their own. They named him Quenton and subsequently adopted him; his listed birthdate is his date of adoption.

Quenton took to human society quickly, and was soon enrolled in school. Having a polar bear in the classroom came as quite a shock to the community, but the city soon rallied behind their unique son. Quenton was a good student and, according to one instructor, ""a joy to teach.""

Quenton grew fond of football, and it wasn't long before he started his football journey. He played middle school football for several years, but was soon picked up by the varsity team. He played running back for most of his high school career, and helped Eagle River win three state titles. Despite his dominant performance at the high school level, he received very little attention from D1 schools. Ultimately, he decided to walk on at the University of Nebraska, his mother's alma mater.

College career

Bode walked on to the Nebraska football team his freshman year, and spent much of that time riding the bench. It was at this point he made the switch from running back to linebacker, as Nebraska already had several talented running backs on roster. His one notable game came against Iowa, in which he picked off Iowa quarterback Sandy Russell and ran the ball back for the game-winning touchdown.

Bode's sophmore year was slightly better. Although he was not in the starting lineup, he saw intermittent playing time. He ended the season with twenty-six tackles, one sack, and two interceptions.

Between Bode's sophomore and junior years, Nebraska saw an entirely new coaching staff brought in. The new coach, former Nebraska standout Ndamukong Suh, recognized Bode's untapped potential, and named him a starter. Bode's junior year was a breakout year. He saw regular playing time, and performed well above expectations. The Cornhuskers went 12-1 (after going 4-8 the year before), and Bode was named the team Defensive Player of the Year. He was also recognized as a second-team All-American, finishing the year with sixty-five tackles, three sacks, four interceptions, and three forced fumbles (one of which Bode recovered).

Many of the players from the Nebraska offense left the school after Bode's senior year. Several declared for the NFL draft, while others graduated or transferred to other schools. This meant that Bode's senior year was played with a very young offense, and the team struggled because of it. Despite the team going 5-7, Bode had a career year. He finished the year with one hundred and thirty-seven tackles, four sacks, five interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown), and three forced fumbles. He was a consensus first-team All American, won both the Butkus Award and the Jack Lambert Trophy, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He also graduated with a degree in journalism.

After his senior year, Bode declared for the Developmental Simulation Football League (DSFL) draft. He was placed on the Central Grizzlies roster for the S15 Prospect Bowl, who lost in the Prospect Bowl Championship Game to the Pacific Owls.

Professional career

After the Prospect Bowl, Bode declared for the Season 14 DSFL draft.

In the Season 14 DSFL draft, the San Antonio Marshals selected Quenton Bode with the fourth pick in the third round (sixteenth overall). Other notable Marshals draftees in S14 were running back Morgan Marshall, defensive end Nero Alexander, safety Walt Green, and linebacker Mo Berry; these five players quickly came to be known as the "Fab Five." The Fab Five (or Fab V) helped carry San Antonio to one of the best seasons in DSFL history: the team finished the season with 398 points scored and a +205 point differential, both league records. The team also allowed just 198 points, good for second all-time (the S14 Marshals PA record is now fourth all-time, after the S18 and S19 Tijuana Luchadores allowed 188 and 165 points respectively). Bode himself had an impressive rookie season, finishing in the top ten for tackles and sacks, as well as being one of just nine players to record a defensive touchdown. He recorded ten tackles against the Tijuana Luchadores in their playoff matchup, but the Marshals were ultimately defeated by the Luchadores in the first round. After the playoffs, Bode declared for the S15 NSFL draft.

In the Season 15 NSFL draft, the New Orleans Second Line selected Quenton Bode with the second pick in the first round (second overall). Other notable Second Line draftees in S15 were linebacker Johnny Slothface, running back Forrest Gump, cornerback Deon Taylor, and offensive lineman Brave Ulysses. The draft was a small reunion for Bode, Gump, and Ulysses, as all three played for the Central Grizzlies in the Prospect Bowl. Most of the team's draftees elected to remain in the DSFL; Bode was one of just two who decided to play for New Orleans in S15. Shortly after the draft, Bode signed a three-year, $9.5 million contract with New Orleans; the contract also included a no-trade clause.

Season 15 was a tough one for the Second Line, as they finished with a dismal 2-12 record. Bode's performance was one of the few bright spots for the team that year, however. His team-high 108 tackles was good for eighth in the league, and put him well on his way toward claiming the team tackle record as well.

Season 16 saw a big change in the landscape of the league with the addition of two expansion teams: the Chicago Butchers and the Austin Copperheads. The expansion meant that the schedule had to be changed, and so S16 was the first in which only 13 games were played. The season also started off on a bright note, as many of Bode's fellow draftees were called up to the NSFL. Johnny Slothface played next to Bode at linebacker, and Forrest Gump took over as running back. The team as a whole improved, but couldn't manage a winning record and ended the season at 6-7. In a strange twist of fate, Bode once again ended the season with 108 tackles. Like in Season 15, he led the team in tackles, and he ended the season in the top ten for tackles (at seventh overall).

During the offseason, Bode signed a three-year, $6 million extension with New Orleans. Most notably, the extension did not include the NTC that his rookie contract had.

In Season 17, the Second Line came crashing back down to earth. The team that had almost secured a winning record in S16 instead crawled their way to the end of the season and a 4-9 record. Despite their poor showing (or perhaps because of it), Bode flourished on the defensive side of the ball. He made 16 tackles in the final game of the regular season, an impressive feat which allowed him to claim the top spot in the league for tackles.

Season 18 started off very promising for New Orleans: the team was 4-2 halfway through the season and sat atop many of the league power rankings. However, the second half of the season was not as kind to the team. After winning their Week 7 matchup, the Second Line went 0-5 to finish the regular season, losing several games against much weaker opponents. The Second Line had hoped to make the playoffs, but instead was forced to watch from home with a 5-8 record. Bode, like many of his teammates, was frustrated with how the season ended up, and he resolved to work hard and come back in Season 19 stronger than ever. This resolution came in spite of a strong season from Bode; he was second in the league in tackles, including a monstrous 15 tackle game in Week 15, and he ended the season with a career-high four TFLs.

Season 19 proved to be the best season yet, both for Bode and for the team. After having not earned a winning record or a playoff appearance since Season 11, the Second Line finished second in the ASFC with an 8-5 record. In their first playoff game against the Copperheads, New Orleans came back from a 14 point deficit at halftime to win the game and advance to the conference championships. The Second Line faced off against the Orange County Otters, the defending champions. The Second Line fought hard and made sure the game came down to the wire, but the Otters prevailed in the end; they would go on to win their third straight Ultimus. But the Second Line didn't let that get their spirits down, and they are dialed in for S20. On an individual level, Bode had arguably his best season yet. He finished below 100 tackles and outside the league's top ten for the first time in his career, but he recorded career-high totals in sacks, passes defended, and interceptions; he also tied his season total for forced fumbles. He ended the S19 playoffs with 13 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble.

After the S19 playoffs, Bode agreed to a three-year, $12 million extension, keeping him in New Orleans until Season 23.

Professional career statistics

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	40‑yd dash	20‑ss	3‑cone	Vert jump	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	4.34s (1st among linebackers) s	4.20s (1st among linebackers) s	7.22s (3rd among linebackers) s	34.0" (1st among linebackers)	0 131.2" (1st among linebackers)	39 reps (5th among linebackers) reps	25 (tied for 7th among linebackers)

Season	Team	GP	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	FF/FR	PDs	INTs	Safeties	TDs
2029	Marshals	14	115	3	6	1/1	6	2	0	1
2030	Second Line	14	108	3	3	1/0	2	1	0	0
2031	Second Line	13	108	2	2	1/1	3	0	0	0
2032	Second Line	13	125	0	1	2/2	3	0	0	0
2033	Second Line	13	112	4	1	1/0	3	1	0	0
2034	Second Line	13	96	1	5	2/1	7	2	0	0

Achievements and records

First polar bear to play professional football

Selected with the 16th overall pick in the S14 DSFL draft

1 x DSFL Pro Bowl Starter (S14)

Selected with the 2nd overall pick in the S15 NSFL draft

1 x NSFL Pro Bowl Starter (S18)

League leader in tackles (S17)

Third in single-season fumble return yards (32)

Seventh in career fumble return yards (32)

Tied for NOLA single-game tackles record (16)

4 x NSFL Defensive Player of the Game

4 x NOLA Defensive Game Ball