Pitt’s Landing of Rushel Shell is Highlight of Otherwise Down Season
By Matt Shetler
The last Aliquippa High School running back to make a mark at the University of Pittsburgh was a guy named Tony Dorsett. He turned out to be quite ok and left a legacy that has lasted a lifetime in the process.
Since then, Pitt has had its share of ups and downs, but in recent times has had success turning out running backs; including LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis, and most recently Ray Graham.
Rushel Shell not only hopes to live up to the standard they have set recently, but also to live up to the legacy left behind by Dorsett.
Lost in the disappointment of the Panthers most recent loss to Utah was the fact that Shell made a verbal commitment to stay at home and go to Pitt. Rivals.com has the 6’0″, 215-pound running back rated as the fifth-best running back in the 2012 class, while 24/7 Sports has him rated as the fourth best.
This turns out to be quite the coup for Panthers head coach Todd Graham, who is slowly putting together a decent 2012 class. landing Shell though is biggest thing to happen on the Graham watch to date.
I keep preaching to give Graham time and let him start to get the type of athletes he needs for his system. Shell should fit in nicely. As a matter of fact he would fit in nicely to any coaches system.
Shell had scholarship offers from numerous schools, including Penn State, Florida, Oregon, Virginia Tech and North Carolina. But he had narrowed his choices to Pitt and Alabama and wound up choosing the Panthers.
How Graham landed him is the question, but give him a world of credit for doing it. Shell should be able to make an impact right away at Pitt, where he may not have with Alabama.
He’s a workhorse that has the rare combo of size, speed, and power.
The comparisons to Dorsett have already begun. Those are big shoes to try to fill. Hopefully for Panthers fans he’s up to the challenge.
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