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

Shell races to 349 yards

Vikings' sensational sophomore chews up Indians in big game
Saturday, October 17, 2009

By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Rushel Shell went through his usual game-day routine. He went to a teammate's house for a pregame pasta dinner -- and then ate up another defense for dessert.

This is what he has been doing for most of his young football career, but last night was somewhat different for Shell because he never feasted on a team quite like he did against West Allegheny. You can bet the Indians had their fill of him.

Shell, Hopewell High School's sensational sophomore halfback, stretched his streak of 100-yard games to 13, but went a lot farther. He rushed for a career-high 349 yards and led Hopewell to a 34-26 victory against visiting West Allegheny in front of a packed house at Tony Dorsett Stadium.

Shell races to 349 yards

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Over the past 13 games going back to last year, Hopewell running back Rushel Shell is averaging 211.9 rushing yards a game.

Read more: Canon-McMillan battling virus
Pennsylvania: Hopewell’s Shell making people remember Dorsett
Meanwhile, Thomas Jefferson turns defensive win win; Gateway turns up the heat in second half; Cameron County takes home another AML North title.
Sunday, October 18, 2009 By: Chris Rossetti
MaxPreps.com

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. – Once upon a time, a great running back graced the football field at Hopewell High School. A running back that went on to not only win a Heisman Trophy at the University of Pittsburgh but also be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

That running back, Tony Dorsett, was so good the football field is now named after him, and 37 years since he graced the gridiron for the Vikings, another running back is evoking memories of one of the greatest of all time.

The new kid in town, sophomore Rushel Shell, gave fans something they will be talking about 37 years from now when he ran for a career-high 349 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-26 win over West Allegheny on Friday night at Tony Dorsett Stadium.

"I didn’t know I had that many yards," Shell, who ran for 211 yards on just 10 first-half carries, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "But I knew if the line blocked, we knew we were capable of anything."

Shell scored on runs of 84, 77 and 10 yards and went over the 3,000-yard mark in only his 18th career game. He has 3,008 career yards, has run for over 100 yards in 13 straight contests and broke the 200-yard mark for the seventh time in his career.

"Is that what he had? 349?," West Allegheny head coach Bob Palko told the Post-Gazette. "Well, if he didn’t have those Division I college scholarships before, he should get them now. He’s everything they say he is."

Hopewell (7-0), ranked 16th in Pennsylvania by MaxPreps, needed everything Shell could give because West Allegheny (5-2), ranked 56th, proved to be a worthy opponent nearly matching every Viking score with a score of its own thanks to a pretty good running back of its own in Mike Caputo. Caputo ran for 222 yards and three touchdowns, including a 62-yard run.

http://www.maxpreps.com/news/THezNL...ll’s-shell-making-people-remember-dorsett.htm

Hopewell RB off to fast start
Monday, October 19, 2009
THE RACE IS ON

It might seem a little early to start wondering how long Steelton-Highspire graduate Jeremiah Young will hang on to his career rushing yardage title. But Hopewell sophomore Rushel Shell just might make a run at J-Young if the former stays healthy. Shell rushed for 349 yards on just 23 attempts in Hopewell's 34-36 triumph over West Allegheny, boosting Shell's career totals to 3,008 yards in just 18 games. The key will be how many games Shell will play throughout his career, given that it is much tougher to make a playoff run through the WPIAL than in District 3-A. Young was the first Pennsylvania back to rush for more than 9,000 yards, finishing with 9,027.

http://www.pennlive.com/hssports/fo....ssf?/base/sports/1255923605215010.xml&coll=1
 
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craigblitz;1571449; said:
Awesome prospect and my feelings of the kid are not hidden but no way is he 5'11". It doesn't matter at all but just saying be careful with the stats you see posted.


He is indeed 5'11", its my cousin and I texted him before I posted that to be assured of it. Why is there no way he is 5'11"?
 
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Based on a very scientific eyeball test done by me :). Like I mentioned not a cut on the kid, he is fantastic! I was just saying after seeing him I was thinking he was upper 5'9 maybe 5'10".

Was the 5'11" and offical camp measurment? If so I stand corrected.
 
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craigblitz;1571602; said:
Based on a very scientific eyeball test done by me :). Like I mentioned not a cut on the kid, he is fantastic! I was just saying after seeing him I was thinking he was upper 5'9 maybe 5'10".

Was the 5'11" and offical camp measurment? If so I stand corrected.

Yes it is. It also can be seen on scout.com. It is an official measurement from his doctor as well. He was measured at camp before his freshmen season at 5'10".
 
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Pittsburgh Male Athlete of the Week
Buzz up!By Brian Graham, FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, October 21, 2009

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Rushel Shell

School: Hopewell

Class: Sophomore

Sport: Football

Notable: Rushel Shell rushed for a career-best 349 yards on 23 carries and scored on runs of 84, 77 and 10 yards to lift Hopewell past West Allegheny, 34-26, on Friday. Shell ended the first half with 211 yards on 10 carries.

"Our line followed the rules they did a good job because (West Allegheny) had a big line," Shell said. "We had to block them, or we wouldn't get anywhere. Our fullback and wide receivers had some big blocks down field that allowed me to get open out there."

Shell, who has rushed for over 100 yards in 13 straight games, also eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark in just the 18th game of his career, ending the night with 3,008.

You've really burst onto the scene, and you're only a sophomore. What do you think you can improve on moving forward?

Everything. You can always improve on getting stronger, faster, reading the field and following your line.

What goals would you like to accomplish in your next two-plus years at Hopewell?

I just want to stay healthy and keep playing as a team player. Also, keep my head on straight.

What's the best piece of football advice you've received?

Try to make yourself the smallest target on the field. Tony Dorsett told me that.

What was it like talking to a football legend like Tony Dorsett?

It was a privilege. I just listened to everything he said and kept it close to my mind. The things he did could help me and benefit me down the road

Pittsburgh Male Athlete of the Week - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
 
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Varsity Notebook: Hopewell's Shell on pace for WPIAL's all-time mark
McKeesport kings of splash plays
Friday, October 23, 2009
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Much has been written and said about Hopewell sophomore running back Rushel Shell. But to fully appreciate what Shell has done so far, you need to look at him next to the WPIAL's all-time leading rusher.

Shell is pretty much running stride for stride with Mike Vernillo.

Vernillo, a 2000 graduate of Fort Cherry High School, is the WPIAL's top rusher with 7,646 yards. After 18 games of his career, when Vernillo was a sophomore, he had 3,022 yards.

Shell is a sophomore at Hopewell. After 18 games of his career, he has 3,008 yards.

Shell said he had no idea what the WPIAL all-time record is.

"I think it's around 9,000 yards," he said.

When told of Vernillo's mark and told of the similar statistics, Shell said: "I'm surprised. If I'm on the same pace as him and he has the record, then maybe someday I can eventually come close."

Notice he said close. The record is not something he thinks much about.

"It will be a goal to accomplish, but it will be in the back of my mind," he said. "I won't really worry about it. I'm just worried about now.
"



Read more: Varsity Notebook: Hopewell's Shell on pace for WPIAL's all-time mark
 
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