Rushel Shell III

Rushel Shell III (born September 7, 1993) is a former American football running back. He played college football at Pittsburgh and West Virginia, and was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

Rushel Shell
Personal information
Born: (1993-09-07) September 7, 1993
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:221 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Aliquippa (PA) Hopewell
College:West Virginia
Position:Running back
Undrafted:2017
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Shell has also been a member of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

High school career

Shell finished his career as the leading rusher in Pennsylvania state[1][2] and WPIAL history. He also set a new national record by running for 100 yards or more in 39 consecutive games[1] and ran for 200 yards or more 25 times in his high school career.[3]

In 2008, Shell was MaxPrep's national freshman of the year[4] after rushing for 1,516 yards. He also became the first freshman to ever make the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s "Fabulous 22".[5]

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,[6] raising his career total to 4,256.[7] He was again named to the "Fabulous 22" following the season.[8]

In 2010, prior to his junior season, he was named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s preseason player of the year.[9] 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.[10] 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,[11] was again named to the "Fabulous 22,"[12] and was selected as the inaugural "Mr. Pennsylvania" for football.[13] MaxPreps also named him to their second team All-American team.[14]

In 2011, prior to his senior season, he was named to the Post-Gazette's pre-season Fabulous 22.[15] On September 23, he set a new WPIAL record for most career rushing yards.[16] He finished the regular season with 1,764 yards rushing, the most in the WPIAL.[17] 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.[1] 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.[3] He was also named second team All-American by Sports Illustrated.[18]

Rushing records

On November 11, 2011, Shell broke the record for most rushing yards in Pennsylvania state history,[1] finishing with 9,078 yards. The former state high school rushing record was 9,027 yards[19] 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.[20]

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.[21]

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.[16]

Shell once held the Beaver County record for most rushing yards in one game (392, set October 8, 2010).[22]

Senior season

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

  • September 2 (vs. Belle Vernon): 147 yards[23]
  • September 9 (vs. Montour): 233 yards[24]
  • September 16 (at Moon): 367 yards[25]
  • September 23 (vs. Mt. Lebanon): 205 yards[16]
  • September 30 (at Blackhawk): 109 yards[26]
  • October 7 (vs. New Castle): injured[27]
  • October 14 (at Central Valley): 264 yards[28]
  • October 21 (at Ambridge): 226 yards[29]
  • October 28 (vs. West Allegheny): 216 yards[30]
  • November 4 (playoffs round 1, at Indiana): 256 yards[31]
  • November 11 (playoffs round 2, vs. Franklin Regional): 292 yards[21]

Shell led the WPIAL with 1,764 yards during the regular season[17] 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:

  • September 3: 168 yards[32]
  • September 10: 318 yards[33]
  • September 17: 267 yards[34]
  • September 24: 137 yards[35]
  • October 1: 132 yards[36]
  • October 8: 392 yards[37]
  • October 15: 302 yards[38]
  • October 22: 204 yards[39]
  • October 28: 193 yards[10]
  • November 5: 135 yards[40]
  • November 12: 238 yards[41]

After adjustments were made, his final totals were: 2,102 yards during the regular season (9 games), placing him second in the WPIAL,[42] and 2,510 yards for the season (an average of 228 per game) — giving him 6,766 for his career.[43]

College career

As a high school senior running back at Hopewell High School, Shell was regarded by many as one of the top high school athletes in the country.[44][45][46][47][48] He was ranked as the 11th best overall prospect (and 3rd best Running Back) in the class of 2012 by MaxPreps,[49] 20th (#4 RB) by Scout.com,[50] 24th (#3 RB) by ESPNU[51] and 45th (#5 RB) by Rivals.com.[52] After receiving numerous scholarship offers from top football programs throughout the country,[53] Shell announced his commitment to Pitt on October 14, 2011.[54]

In 12 games with Pitt during his freshman season, Shell rushed for 641 yards on 141 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. He also caught 9 passes for 103 yards.

Prior to his sophomore season, Shell quit the Pitt football team with the intention to transfer to another school.[55] Shell initially decided to transfer to UCLA before attempting to return to Pitt, but head 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.

In three seasons with West Virginia, Shell played in 35 games, carrying 450 times for 2,010 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also received 49 passes for 341 yards.

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dashVertical jumpBench press
5 ft 10 in
(1.78 m)		 227 lb
(103 kg)		 30 in
(0.76 m)		 9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.74 s32.5 in
(0.83 m)		21 reps

Shell was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2017.[56] He was waived on June 14, 2017.[57]

Shell was signed by the Calgary Stampeders as a running back on May 17, 2018, but was later released on June 10, 2018. [58]

References
  1. "Franklin Regional's 1st field-goal try of season nets winning points". www.postgazette.com.
  2. PIAA football records#Rushing
  3. "Post-Gazette High School Football Player of the Year: Rushel Shell". www.postgazette.com.
  4. "Pennsylvania's Shell Tabbed Top Freshman - MaxPreps". January 15, 2009.
  5. "Fabulous 22: The top high school football players in the WPIAL and City League". www.post-gazette.com.
  6. "Football Notebook: Deer Lakes is looking to end playoff drought". www.post-gazette.com.
  7. "Blue Chip Chat with Rushel Shell". www.post-gazette.com.
  8. "The Fabulous 22: The region's top high school football athletes". www.post-gazette.com.
  9. "Hopewell's Shell leads Trib's All-Preseason Team – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review".
  10. "Shell sets record as Hopewell tops West Allegheny". www.post-gazette.com.
  11. "Football Player of the Year: Rushel Shell". www.post-gazette.com.
  12. "The Post-Gazette's 2010 Fabulous 22". www.postgazette.com.
  13. "Green, Shell named Mr. Pennsylvania Football at awards cermony". September 8, 2023.
  14. "2010 U.S. Air Force All-American Team - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. January 2, 2011.
  15. "2011 High School Football Preview: Preseason Fabulous 22". www.post-gazette.com.
  16. "Super Shell: Hopewell star breaks Vernillo's record on 54-yard run, scores winning TD, too". www.postgazette.com.
  17. "Football Statistical Leaders". www.post-gazette.com.
  18. "SI.com's 2011 High School Football All-Americas - More Sports - SI.com".
  19. Player Bio: Jeremiah Young – BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE Archived December 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  20. NFHS | National High School Sports Record Book 2011 Archived August 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  21. White, Mike. "Live Friday blog - Franklin Regional wins, 24-21".
  23. "Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving". www.post-gazette.com.
  24. White, Mike. "Live Friday night blog - Hopewell upsets Montour".
  25. "Hopewell 56, Moon Area 28, FINAL - Timesonline.com: High School Football:". Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  26. White, Mike. "Live Friday night blog - NA wins, 49-28....Clairton scores 84 and Gateway 85".
  27. White, Mike. "Rushel Shell out for tonight's game".
  28. "WPIAL Class AAA: Central Valley wins, remains atop Parkway". www.postgazette.com.
  29. "WPIAL Class AAA Roundup: No. 3 Knoch knocks off Highlands". www.post-gazette.com.
  30. "Shell ensures Vikings season to continue". www.post-gazette.com.
  31. "WPIAL CLASS AAA ROUNDUP: Hopewell's Shell ties Sims' mark". www.post-gazette.com.
  32. "Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving". www.post-gazette.com.
  33. "Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving". www.post-gazette.com.
  34. "Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving". www.post-gazette.com.
  35. "Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving". www.post-gazette.com.
  36. "Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving". www.post-gazette.com.
  37. "Football Statistical Leaders". www.post-gazette.com.
  38. "Beaver County Times: Friday night football summaries". Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  39. "Football Leaders: Rushing, Passing, Receiving". www.post-gazette.com.
  40. White, Mike. "Mars' Miele runs for 448....... Other notes and thoughts".
  41. White, Mike. "Final Friday night notes and thoughts".
  42. "Football Statistical Leaders". www.post-gazette.com.
  43. "Varsity Notes: Mars coach expecting cell phone updates". www.post-gazette.com.
  44. "MaxPreps Fresh Faces Class of 2012 Top 100 – MaxPreps". July 28, 2009.
  45. "Villa: Shell becoming a rising star". ESPN.com. July 9, 2010.
  46. "Class of 2012 Football Top 100 Watch List – MaxPreps". August 26, 2010.
  47. "Espnhs Magazine – Espnhs – High School Sports Rankings, Results, Training, Performance, College Recruiting – How To Win".
  48. "Hopewell running back Rushel Shell breaks records in backfield. – SI.com – High School Player of the Week".
  49. "Tom Lemming unveils 2012 Top 100 - MaxPreps". April 6, 2011.
  50. "Recruiting Football Team News, 247Sports". recruiting.scout.com.
  51. "ESPN Football Recruiting - Player Rankings".
  52. "Rivals.com". sports.yahoo.com.
  53. "Watch List RB Shell picking up offers from coast to coast".
  54. "As expected, Hopewell standout commits to Pitt". www.post-gazette.com.
  55. "Running back Rushel Shell to leave Pitt - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  56. "Steelers agree to terms with nine rookie free agents". Steelers.com. April 29, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  57. DeArdo, Bryan (June 14, 2017). "Steelers sign Brandon Brown-Dukes, release RB Rushel Shell". 247Sports.com.
  58. "Transactions - Calgary Stampeders".


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