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

[stowfan]

Scout$--Hopewell Five-Star Talks Recruiting

Rushell says tOSU is still recruiting him and he will visit for the PSU game. However, he wants to play as a true freshman and his interest in the Buckeyes has diminished.

When the Dunn offer went out, I wondered if Rushel, had given the staff the word that his interest had diminished.

 

[ScriptOhio]

You might have a slight case of amnesia. USC's class in 2007 was absolutely insane at the RB position. They got the #1 and #2 RBs as well as the #14!

Ratings are not always what they are cracked up to be:

#1 had NCAA issues concernign his SUV. Coming out of USC, Petey/Seattle Seahawks didn't want to draft him.
#2 is playing this year; but he isn't "setting the world on fire".
#14 transferred to Arkansas

I wonder which one Petey told that he was "his #1 guy". Probably all three.

Regardless Rushel Shell looks to be the "real deal"; I think we should continue to recruit him.

 

[RB07OSU]

I think people are selling Shell short (say that 5 times fast ). This kid simply has the best instincts and football skills I've seen in awhile at the RB spot. He honestly reminds me of Clarrett through and through on the field. Shell may be the best back in the country (maybe the best player period) and imo you never, ever turn down anyone of that caliber. Not to mention we took no RB's this year...so the '11-'12 class combined would be 3 RB's, which is fine. 1 or 2 will redshirt and there is your seperation. Perhaps one will change positions. No matter how you slice it, I would never turn down Shell.

 

[kolOhioState88]

right get the best athletes in here. let them sort themselves out. if they are good they will play

 

[NFBuck]

A guy whose interest in Ohio State is diminished due to a desire to play as a freshman, combined with already having two backs and limited scholarships in the class, combined with Ohio State's depth chart at RB, combined with Tressel's soft sell approach, combined with other coaches not soft sell approach doesn't equal Shell being a Buckeye in my opinion.

Too bad, because he looks like a great player, but not a big deal or something worth worrying either way about.

It would be worth discussing/fretting about if he was obviously a better RB than Ball and/or Dunn...but, IMO, he's not.

 

[Buckeye86]

It would be worth discussing/fretting about if he was obviously a better RB than Ball and/or Dunn...but, IMO, he's not.

even if someone did think Shell is obviously better, the coaching staff clearly feels comfortable with any of the three, so it's one of those "trust the coaches" types of deals

 

[FrancisSoyer]

Stay out of PA Saban!

I think people are selling Shell short (say that 5 times fast ). This kid simply has the best instincts and football skills I've seen in awhile at the RB spot. He honestly reminds me of Clarrett through and through on the field. Shell may be the best back in the country (maybe the best player period) and imo you never, ever turn down anyone of that caliber. Not to mention we took no RB's this year...so the '11-'12 class combined would be 3 RB's, which is fine. 1 or 2 will redshirt and there is your seperation. Perhaps one will change positions. No matter how you slice it, I would never turn down Shell.

For sure. Kind of disheartening that he's so dead set on playing as a true freshman although I have no doubt that he could. Really hope he ends up in Columbus.

 

[pharaz1]

For sure. Kind of disheartening that he's so dead set on playing as a true freshman although I have no doubt that he could. Really hope he ends up in Columbus.

if he is so dead set on playing as a true freshman, i dont understand what has changed since he said we were his leader a few weeks ago. i know dunn and ball committed but i would think that they are not his biggest competition for early playing time as a freshman as much as it is the guys who are already here (boom, hall, berry, etc.). no?

 

[wadc45]

It baffles me that OSU just landed two of the top RBs the Midwest has produced in the last five years and there are still those that are concerned that it means the staff might be missing out on Shell. Fact is you can't take them all and recruiting is anything but an exact science. There were many people [including some that I've seen take a hypocritical stance since] that said OSU should offer all three and take the first two that accepted. How do we know that's not what the staff did? The info on whether or not Shell had a verbal offer has been back and forth for the last six months...who knows when he received an actual verbal offer from the OSU staff.

Also, I think we need to expect things to be slightly confusing going forward given the new rules as to when an official offer can be tendered. It will not be as cut and dry as it once was. We've seen it before...a kid confuses a statement by a staff member such as "Keep up the good work and we will be talking about an offer" with "We will be officially offering you come August 1st of your senior year and will accept a verbal commitment at this time". There is going to be even more of that now that schools have to wait longer to put it in writing.

 

[HotMic]

It baffles me that OSU just landed two of the top RBs the Midwest has produced in the last five years and there are still those that are concerned that it means the staff might be missing out on Shell. Fact is you can't take them all and recruiting is anything but an exact science. There were many people [including some that I've seen take a hypocritical stance since] that said OSU should offer all three and take the first two that accepted. How do we know that's not what the staff did? The info on whether or not Shell had a verbal offer has been back and forth for the last six months...who knows when he received an actual verbal offer from the OSU staff.

Also, I think we need to expect things to be slightly confusing going forward given the new rules as to when an official offer can be tendered. It will not be as cut and dry as it once was. We've seen it before...a kid confuses a statement by a staff member such as "Keep up the good work and we will be talking about an offer" with "We will be officially offering you come August 1st of your senior year and will accept a verbal commitment at this time". There is going to be even more of that now that schools have to wait longer to put it in writing.

WIN

 

[jwinslow]

if he is so dead set on playing as a true freshman, i dont understand what has changed since he said we were his leader a few weeks ago. i know dunn and ball committed but i would think that they are not his biggest competition for early playing time as a freshman as much as it is the guys who are already here (boom, hall, berry, etc.). no?

berry and hall look a lot better to a casual observer than they did back then, but if Shell is as good as his rating, he could still play as a freshman, he'll just have his work cut out for him.

 

[Buckskin86]

Blackhawk defeats Hopewell, 31-14
Saturday, October 02, 2010
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Hopewell's Rushel Shell is tackled by Blackhawk's Josh Desmond during Friday's game.

Hopewell running back Rushel Shell keeps moving up the list of the WPIAL's all-time leading rushers. But his team cannot get out of the basement of its conference.

After Blackhawk came into Tony Dorsett Stadium Friday night and handled host Hopewell, 31-14, the cruel, hard reality is that one of the leading rushers in WPIAL history likely will not be in the playoffs this season.

Shell ran for 132 yards on 24 attempts and passed two others to move into seventh place on the WPIAL all-time rushing list with 5,269 yards. But the loss dropped Hopewell's record in the Class AAA Parkway Conference to 0-3 (1-4 overall). Blackhawk is 2-1 in the conference and 4-1 overall.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10275/1092166-365.stm#ixzz11CYIKKzq

 

[Taosman]

He looks very fast and has a great burst, but the league he plays in just doesn't look as good compared to Dunn's league (Federal League).
Great kid though and a Tressel type recruit.

 

[Muck]

It baffles me that OSU just landed two of the top RBs the Midwest has produced in the last five years and there are still those that are concerned that it means the staff might be missing out on Shell.

Hi Wade! I'd like to officially welcome you to the internet.

 

[Buckskin86]

Hopewell star unhappy with start
By Chris Harlan
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, October 8, 2010

WPIAL career rushing leaders
1. Mike Vernillo, Fort Cherry (thru 1999): 7,646
2. Matt Gavrish, Penn-Trafford (thru 1997): 6,512
3. Rodney Wilson, West Greene (thru 1993): 6,304
4. Jason Barr, McGuffey (thru 1993): 5,749
5. Chico Williams, Aliquippa (thru 1992): 5,417
6. Darrell Harding, Charleroi (thru 1991): 5,410
7. Rushel Shell, Hopewell (still active): 5,265
8. Max Suter, Greensburg Central Catholic (thru 2006): 5,252
9. Todd Harris, Duquesne HS (thru 2001): 5,224
10. Keith Miller, Beth-Center (thru 1994): 5,121

Hopewell's Rushel Shell has been hurdling names on the WPIAL's all-time rushing list two at a time, moving closer to a record that seems within his reach.

But he's not having much fun.

That's because while he streaks toward the top of that rushing list, his team has been stumbling toward the bottom of the Parkway Conference standings.

Hopewell is tied for last.

"It's been frustrating," said Shell, a highly recruited running back. "Sometimes, you want to put your head down."

Never did Shell imagine he would be playing for his playoff life in Week 6 of his junior season.

A year ago, Hopewell was unbeaten in the regular season and the WPIAL runner-up in Class AAA. But one more loss almost certainly would leave the Vikings (1-4, 0-3) home come November.

"It's basically do or die," Shell said of tonight's game at New Castle.

A 6-foot, 220-pounder, Shell has rushed for 1,011 yards and eight touchdowns in 2010 ? the beginning of what should be another outstanding statistical season for last year's WPIAL leading rusher. In his varsity career, Shell has 5,265 yard

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_703312.html