Rushel Shell
Encyclopedia
Rushel Shell is a high school football player from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
. He is currently a senior at Hopewell High School
and is regarded by many as one of the top high school athletes in the country. He is currently ranked as the 11th best overall prospect (and 3rd best Running Back) in the class of 2012 by MaxPreps, 20th (#4 RB) by Scout.com, 24th (#3 RB) by ESPNU and 45th (#5 RB) by Rivals.com. After receiving countless scholarship offers from top football programs throughout the country, Shell announced his commitment to Pitt on October 14th.
In 2008, Shell was MaxPrep's national freshman of the year after rushing for 1,516 yards. He also became the first freshman to ever make the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's "Fabulous 22".
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, raising his career total to 4,256. He was again named to the "Fabulous 22" following the season.
In 2010, prior to his junior season, he was named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's preseason player of the year. 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. 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, was again named to the "Fabulous 22," and was selected as the inaugural "Mr. Pennsylvania" for football. MaxPreps also named him to their second team All-American team.
In 2011, prior to his senior season, he was named to the Post-Gazette's pre-season Fabulous 22. On September 23rd, he set a new WPIAL record for most career rushing yards . He finished the regular season with 1,764 yards rushing, the most in the WPIAL. 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. He finished the season with 2,302 yards, giving him 9,078 yards for his career.
'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.
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
.
On September 23rd, 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.
Shell also holds the Beaver County record for most rushing yards in one game (392, set October 8, 2010).
Shell led the WPIAL with 1,764 yards during the regular season and 2,312 yards, giving him 9,078 yards for his career. He finished his career by rushing for 100+ yards in 39 consecutive games and also ran for over 200 yards 25 times in his career.
After adjustments were made, his final totals were: 2,102 yards during the regular season (9 games), placing him second in the WPIAL, and 2,510 yards for the season (an average of 228 per game) — giving him 6,766 for his career.
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 9,438 at the 2010 census. Formerly a borough, it was formally named a city in 1987 by the Aliquippa Council.-History:...
. He is currently a senior at Hopewell High School
Hopewell High School (Pennsylvania)
Hopewell High School is a high school in Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The township is served by the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania post office, accounting for the mailing address.-Sports:...
and is regarded by many as one of the top high school athletes in the country. He is currently ranked as the 11th best overall prospect (and 3rd best Running Back) in the class of 2012 by MaxPreps, 20th (#4 RB) by Scout.com, 24th (#3 RB) by ESPNU and 45th (#5 RB) by Rivals.com. After receiving countless scholarship offers from top football programs throughout the country, Shell announced his commitment to Pitt on October 14th.
High school career
Shell finished his career as the leading rusher in Pennsylvania state and WPIAL history. He also set a new national record by running for 100 yards or more in 39 consecutive games and ran for 200 yards or more 17 times in his first three years.In 2008, Shell was MaxPrep's national freshman of the year after rushing for 1,516 yards. He also became the first freshman to ever make the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's "Fabulous 22".
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, raising his career total to 4,256. He was again named to the "Fabulous 22" following the season.
In 2010, prior to his junior season, he was named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's preseason player of the year. 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. 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, was again named to the "Fabulous 22," and was selected as the inaugural "Mr. Pennsylvania" for football. MaxPreps also named him to their second team All-American team.
In 2011, prior to his senior season, he was named to the Post-Gazette's pre-season Fabulous 22. On September 23rd, he set a new WPIAL record for most career rushing yards . He finished the regular season with 1,764 yards rushing, the most in the WPIAL. 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. He finished the season with 2,302 yards, giving him 9,078 yards for his career.
Rushing records
On November 11, 2011, Shell broke the record for most rushing yards in Pennsylvania state history, finishing with 9,078 yards. The former state high school rushing record was 9,027 yards and was held by BucknellBucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
's Jeremiah Young, who played at Steelton-Highspire
Steelton-Highspire School District
The Steelton-Highspire School District is diminutive, urban public school district located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses the boroughs of Steelton and Highspire, both industrial suburbs of Harrisburg. The district features one elementary school, one middle school, and one high...
High School. The total would rank him 10th in national history, according to the 2011 NFHS record book.
In the same game, he finished with 100+ yards rushing for the 39th consecutive time, breaking the national record held by former Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
star Billy Sims
Billy Sims
Billy Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:...
.
On September 23rd, 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.
Shell also holds the Beaver County record for most rushing yards in one game (392, set October 8, 2010).
Senior season
Initial reports were that he ran for the following number of yards in each game:- September 2 (vs. Belle Vernon): 147 yards
- September 9 (vs. Montour): 233 yards
- September 16 (at Moon): 367 yards
- September 23 (vs. Mt. Lebanon): 205 yards
- September 30 (at Blackhawk): 109 yards
- October 7 (vs. New Castle): injured
- October 14 (at Central Valley): 264 yards
- October 21 (at Ambridge): 226 yards
- October 28 (vs. West Allegheny): 216 yards
- November 4 (playoffs round 1, at Indiana): 256 yards
- November 11 (playoffs round 2, vs. Franklin Regional): 292 yards
Shell led the WPIAL with 1,764 yards during the regular season and 2,312 yards, giving him 9,078 yards for his career. He finished his career by rushing for 100+ yards in 39 consecutive games and also ran for over 200 yards 25 times in his career.
Junior season
Initial reports were that he ran for the following number of yards in each game:- September 3: 168 yards
- September 10: 318 yards
- September 17: 267 yards
- September 24: 137 yards
- October 1: 132 yards
- October 8: 392 yards
- October 15: 302 yards
- October 22: 204 yards
- October 28: 193 yards
- November 5: 135 yards
- November 12: 238 yards
After adjustments were made, his final totals were: 2,102 yards during the regular season (9 games), placing him second in the WPIAL, and 2,510 yards for the season (an average of 228 per game) — giving him 6,766 for his career.