Five years later, an older, wiser Rushel Shell returns to Pittsburgh with Steelers
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Admittedly, Rushel Shell鈥檚 last run under the Pittsburgh spotlight did not turn out as he would have liked. That was back in 2012, when the Hopewell native was 19 and looking to transfer out of the University of Pittsburgh after just one season.
Five years later, the last three of them spent at West Virginia University, Shell is coming back home with a chance to write a fairy tale ending.
Moments after the NFL Draft concluded Saturday, the 23-year-old signed with his hometown Steelers as an undrafted free agent.
鈥淐oach (Mike) Tomlin just told me that this was a great opportunity for me and they鈥檙e giving me a shot to compete,鈥� Shell said. 鈥淚 just feel like God鈥檚 put me in a place to redo something from my past that I can do better and that I鈥檓 way more mature now.鈥�
A former five-star recruit, Shell was one of the most sought after prospects coming out of high school. At Hopewell, Shell rushed for a state record 9,078 yards, a record that still stands.
After transferring from Pitt, Shell had tried to go with coach Todd Graham to Arizona State but was denied. He then tried to transfer to UCLA but instead decided to go to WVU to stay closer to home and be near his twin daughters. In his college career, Shell had 591 carries for 2,651 yards and 24 touchdowns.
This weekend, Shell watched as 25 other running backs were selected in the NFL Draft, a fact that he says doesn鈥檛 sit well with him.
鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 big motivation,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 saw about 24 guys go at my position that I felt that I was better than. God has a path for everyone and he just put me on this path. Maybe it鈥檚 to make me work harder, or make me realize some things. I鈥檝e got a chip on my shoulder and I feel like I have to show what my true value is worth.鈥�
The 5-foot-10, 227-pound Shell is viewed as a potential backup or by-committee running back.
Shell joins a crowded Steelers backfield that features Le鈥橵eon Bell and now includes former Pitt star James Conner, who was selected in the third round of the draft. Shell would likely be battling Fitzgerald Toussaint for a roster spot and would need to excel on special teams to have a shot at the 53-man roster.
鈥淐oming from West Virginia, I鈥檝e been playing with NFL (caliber) backs my whole career here,鈥� Shell said. 鈥淪o I guess I feel like if I鈥檓 around good running backs it makes me even better, makes me more hungrier and brings out the best competitor in me.鈥�
Shell says he struck up a relationship with Tomlin during his time in Pittsburgh and believes he can make the most of his second act at Heinz Field.
鈥淛ust making the right decisions, doing the right things and being a role model for the kids from my area,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel like I have a lot to prove. A lot of respect for the Steelers.鈥�