Rushel Shell

Rushel Shell
West Virginia Mountaineers No. 7
Position Running back
Class Junior
Major Multidisciplinary studies
Career history
College
High school Aliquippa (PA) Hopewell
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-09-07) September 7, 1993
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight 221 lb (100 kg)
Career highlights and awards

Rushel Shell III (born September 7, 1993) is an American football running back from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. As a high school senior running back at Hopewell high school he was regarded by many as one of the top high school athletes in the country.[1][2][3][4][5] He was ranked as the 11th best overall prospect (and 3rd best Running Back) in the class of 2012 by MaxPreps,[6] 20th (#4 RB) by Scout.com,[7] 24th (#3 RB) by ESPNU[8] and 45th (#5 RB) by Rivals.com.[9] After receiving numerous scholarship offers from top football programs throughout the country,[10] Shell announced his commitment to Pitt on October 14, 2011.[11] Prior to his Sophomore season, Shell quit the Pitt football team with the intention to transfer to another school.[12] Shell initially decided to transfer to UCLA, but then tried to return to Pitt, but coach Paul Chryst refused Shell's request. Shell ultimately narrowed his choices of transfer destinations to the University of Kentucky and West Virginia University, before deciding to enroll at West Virginia.

High school career

Shell finished his career as the leading rusher in Pennsylvania state[13][14] and WPIAL history. He also set a new national record by running for 100 yards or more in 39 consecutive games[13] and ran for 200 yards or more 25 times in his high school career.[15]

In 2008, Shell was MaxPrep's national freshman of the year[16] after rushing for 1,516 yards. He also became the first freshman to ever make the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s "Fabulous 22".[17]

In 2009, as a sophomore, Shell rushed for 2,740 yards—becoming only the third player in WPIAL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in the regular season,[18] raising his career total to 4,256.[19] He was again named to the "Fabulous 22" following the season.[20]

In 2010, prior to his junior season, he was named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s preseason player of the year.[21] He ran for 2,102 yards during the regular season (9 games), the third highest total in WPIAL history, and became the first WPIAL player to twice rush for 2,000 yards in the regular season.[22] He finished the season with 2,510 yards, raising his career total to 6,766. Following the season, he was named the Post-Gazette's player of the year,[23] was again named to the "Fabulous 22,"[24] and was selected as the inaugural "Mr. Pennsylvania" for football.[25] MaxPreps also named him to their second team All-American team.[26]

In 2011, prior to his senior season, he was named to the Post-Gazette's pre-season Fabulous 22.[27] On September 23, he set a new WPIAL record for most career rushing yards.[28] He finished the regular season with 1,764 yards rushing, the most in the WPIAL.[29] In his last game, he set a new state record for most rushing yards and broke the national record by rushing for 100+ yards for the 39th consecutive game.[13] He finished the season with 2,302 yards, giving him 9,078 yards for his career. Following the season, he was again named the Post-Gazette's player of the year, becoming only the third two-time winner.[15] He was also named second team All-American by Sports Illustrated.[30]

Rushing records

On November 11, 2011, Shell broke the record for most rushing yards in Pennsylvania state history,[13] finishing with 9,078 yards. The former state high school rushing record was 9,027 yards[31] and was held by Bucknell's Jeremiah Young, who played at Steelton-Highspire High School. The total would rank him 10th in national history, according to the 2011 NFHS record book.[32]

In the same game, he finished with 100+ yards rushing for the 39th consecutive time, breaking the national record held by former Oklahoma star Billy Sims.[33]

On September 23, 2011, Shell set a new WPIAL record for career rushing yards—finishing the game with 7,718 yards and surpassing Mike Vernillo's record of 7,646.[28]

Shell also holds the Beaver County record for most rushing yards in one game (392, set October 8, 2010).[34]

Senior season

Initial reports were that he ran for the following number of yards in each game:

Shell led the WPIAL with 1,764 yards during the regular season[29] and ran for 2,312 yards total, giving him 9,078 yards for his career.

Junior season

Initial reports were that he ran for the following number of yards in each game:

After adjustments were made, his final totals were: 2,102 yards during the regular season (9 games), placing him second in the WPIAL,[54] and 2,510 yards for the season (an average of 228 per game) — giving him 6,766 for his career.[55]

References

  1. MaxPreps Fresh Faces Class of 2012 Top 100 - MaxPreps News
  2. College football recruiting: Rushel Shell is something special - ESPN
  3. Class of 2012 Football Top 100 Watch List - MaxPreps News
  4. Espnhs Magazine - Espnhs | High School Sports Rankings, Results, Training, Performance, College Recruiting | How To Win
  5. Hopewell running back Rushel Shell breaks records in backfield. - SI.com - High School Player of the Week
  6. Tom Lemming unveils 2012 Top 100 - MaxPreps News
  7. Scout.com: Football Recruiting
  8. ESPN Football Recruiting - Player Rankings - ESPN
  9. Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com Rivals100 2012
  10. RB Rushel Shell getting offers from all over - ESPN
  11. As expected, Hopewell standout commits to Pitt
  12. http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/pitt-big-east/pitt-running-back-rushel-shell-to-leave-pitt-681722/
  13. 1 2 3 4 Franklin Regional's 1st field-goal try of season nets winning points
  14. PIAA Football Records#Rushing
  15. 1 2 Post-Gazette High School Football Player of the Year: Rushel Shell
  16. Pennsylvania's Shell Tabbed Top Freshman - MaxPreps News
  17. Fabulous 22: The top high school football players in the WPIAL and City League
  18. Football Notebook: Deer Lakes is looking to end playoff drought
  19. Blue Chip Chat with Rushel Shell
  20. The Fabulous 22: The region's top high school football athletes
  21. Hopewell's Shell leads Trib's All-Preseason Team - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
  22. 1 2 Shell sets record as Hopewell tops West Allegheny
  23. Football Player of the Year: Rushel Shell
  24. The Post-Gazette's 2010 Fabulous 22
  25. Green, Shell named Mr. Pennsylvania Football at awards ceremony | PennLive.com
  26. 2010 U.S. Air Force All-American Team - MaxPreps News
  27. 2011 High School Football Preview: Preseason Fabulous 22
  28. 1 2 3 Super Shell: Hopewell star breaks Vernillo's record on 54-yard run, scores winning TD, too
  29. 1 2 Football Statistical Leaders
  30. SI.com's 2011 High School Football All-Americas - More Sports - SI.com
  31. Player Bio: Jeremiah Young - BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
  32. NFHS | National High School Sports Record Book 2011
  33. 1 2 Live Friday blog - Franklin Regional wins, 24-21
  34. http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sports_details/article/1424/2010/october/10/one-shell-on-a-night-for-hopewell.html
  35. Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving
  36. Live Friday night blog - Hopewell upsets Montour
  37. Hopewell 56, Moon Area 28, FINAL - Timesonline.com: High School Football:
  38. Live Friday night blog - NA wins, 49-28 Clairton scores 84 and Gateway 85
  39. Rushel Shell out for tonight's game
  40. WPIAL Class AAA: Central Valley wins, remains atop Parkway
  41. WPIAL Class AAA Roundup: No. 3 Knoch knocks off Highlands
  42. Shell ensures Vikings season to continue
  43. WPIAL CLASS AAA ROUNDUP: Hopewell's Shell ties Sims' mark
  44. Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving
  45. Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving
  46. Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving
  47. Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving
  48. Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving
  49. Football Statistical Leaders
  50. http://www.timesonline.com/bct_news/news_details/article/1373/2010/october/15/friday-night-football-update.html
  51. Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving
  52. Mars' Miele runs for 448 Other notes and thoughts
  53. Final Friday night notes and thoughts
  54. Football Statistical Leaders
  55. Varsity Notes: Mars coach expecting cell phone updates
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