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'12 PA RB Rushel Shell (Pitt Signee; Transfer to West Virginia)

Buckskin86

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Hopewell, PA

Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 209 lbs.
Forty: 4.45 seconds
Bench Press 290 as a 15 year old
1,362 yards in 10 games Freshman year

On the run
Freshman Rushel Shell has turned Hopewell football games into a personal playground; many see greatness in his future
Friday, November 07, 2008
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Like his father and grandfather, Rushel Shell doesn't have a middle name or initial. He is simply Rushel Shell III.

But this fall, the youngest Rushel Shell seems to have picked up an identifiable four-word moniker. It goes like this:

Rushel Shell -- The Next Great One.

Don't be surprised if Shell gets scholarship offers by next summer.

"I'm not saying I'm going to school at these places, but I like Ohio State, Penn State and USC," Shell said.

Ask Shell who his favorite athlete is in all of sports, and he doesn't hesitate before answering Terrelle Pryor, the former Jeannette star now at Ohio State. Shell also is reputed to be a pretty good basketball player who will see varsity time as a freshman.

"He can dunk a ball like it's nothing," Vestal said.

But football will most likely be his best sport.

On the run
 
Really like his mesureables. If he gets to around 6'1" and 220 lbs around his junior year, he'll be awesome with that 4.45 speed. Someone to really look forward to in the coming years.
 
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Fabulous 22: A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Thanksgiving tradition
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

RUSHEL SHELL
The skinny: The first freshman to ever make the Fabulous 22. Rushed for 1,576 yards on 181 attempts (8.7 average) and scored 14 touchdowns. Had three consecutive 200-yard games. Opposing coaches say he could be a "great one" in the future.

College: Division I colleges are interested, and Pitt already has offered a scholarship.

Other than a parent whose been role model to you? Terrelle Pryor. He's starting as a freshman [at Ohio State] just like I did.

Favorite school subject? Math

Food you can't do without? Chicken wings.

Something you'd change about high school? Less time in school during the day.

You'd like to spend a day with ....? Terrelle Pryor.

Your most prized possession? My cross necklace.

People might be surprised to know that you ... Watch Hannah Montana.

Fabulous 22: A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Thanksgiving tradition
 
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from earlier this month....

Q&A with Hopewell running back Rushel Shell
By The Tribune-Review
Thursday, November 6, 2008

Hopewell running back Rushel Shell finished with a game-high 237 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in Hopewell's first-round playoff win against Greensburg Salem last week. It was his fourth consecutive 200-yard effort.

And even more impressive, he's only a freshman.

The 5-foot-11, 209-pound Shell earned the starting job before the fifth game of the season and has been unstoppable ever since. Shell has 1,362 yards and 11 touchdowns on 161 carries on the season. His yardage total is sixth in the WPIAL.

Q: Which NCAA or professional player do you look up to or model your game after?

A: Terrelle Pryor because I like his swagger, the way he plays football.

Q&A with Hopewell running back Rushel Shell - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
 
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He is starting to remind of a young Maurice Clarett, especially with his size and strength. The only difference is Clarett wasn't as fast as this kid is and I dont believe he earned his first offer as he commited to Notre Dame as Sophomore I believe. This kid is going to be special.
 
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Well he is doing his best to not pick any favorites till he is older, which i think is a very good decision. but he is a big fan of pryor and therefore ohio state. but he needs to keep his head on straight and wait till he is older to pick his school.
 
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Pennsylvania's Shell Tabbed Top Freshman
Hopewell High School (Aliquippa, Pa.) opponents, Tony Dorsett took notice of productive freshman.
Posted on: Thursday, January 15, 2009
By Stephen Spiewak
MaxPreps.com

5e16130c-f011-4423-985a-6e2e75be9e68.jpg

Earning a spot as a starter in the sixth week of the season, Rushel Shell went on to rush for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns while helping Hopewell reach the state playoffs. (Photo by Jim Stout)

While launching one of the most successful freshman seasons in Pennsylvania history, Hopewell (Aliquippa, Pa.) running back Rushel Shell commanded the respect of his coaches, members of the media and fans alike.

However, his most important achievement was gaining the trust and admiration of his teammates, predominantly upperclassmen, who he?d be going to battle with each week, and who weren?t particularly accustomed to ninth graders stealing the spotlight.

?When you?re a senior or a junior and you see a frosh coming in, that?s hard,? said Hopewell head coach Dave Vestal. ?But he has a great work ethic and earned the respect of his teammates.

?The great thing about it is that he earned everything he got. He was given nothing.?

Shell meshed nicely with the rest of the Vikings, and had a prolific season by anyone?s standards. The 6-foot, 210-pound back gained 1,516 yards and scored 14 touchdowns after being thrust into a starting role in week six.

?We slowly worked him in, and every time he came in, he made big plays,? Vestal said.

He helped lead the Vikings to the AAA playoffs, where they fell 36-15 to eventual state champion Thomas Jefferson. Shell became only the second back to rush for 100 yards against the Jaguars on the season, compiling 153 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns.

?He?s way better than I thought he was,? Thomas Jefferson head coach Bill Cherpak told the Post-Gazette after the game.

He was later named to the Post-Gazette?s Fabulous 22 list, the only freshman honored.

Shell has also been impressive off the field. In addition to being a good student, he has done well dealing with the flood of attention that he has gotten, according to Vestal.

?He?s handled himself very well with the media,? he said. ?He?s very mature and well spoken.?

Media members aren?t the only ones flocking to Shell. College coaches are also noticing the freshman phenom, who reportedly has speed in the 4.4 range and can already bench press 300 pounds.

?He?s been down to a couple of Pitt games on his own doing, with his friends. They?ve expressed a lot of interest,? said Vestal, who also mentioned Ohio State and Notre Dame as other schools who have shown a preliminary desire to recruit Shell in the future.

Maxpreps Articles - Pennsylvania's Shell Tabbed Top Freshman
 
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