Rushel Shell, the nation's
No. 11 recruit and
No. 1 big back, committed to Pittsburgh this morning in a press conference held at his school, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Rushel Shell (center)
Photo by Jim Stout
The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Shell chose Pitt over Alabama.
Over his four years at
Hopewell (Aliquippa, Pa.), Shell has been one of the most productive backs in the history of the WPIAL. Currently, he has 7,827 career rushing yards, a league record.
Shell burst onto the scene as a ninth-grader, rushing for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning MaxPreps
National Freshman of the Year honors in 2009.
"I loved football, ever since I was a little kid," Shell told MaxPreps last month. "Whenever I got the ball in my hands, my body just goes into a different mode, like I'm on a cloud. It's always been like that for some reason. I pride myself a little on being a combination back, someone who is strong to run through you, or shifty to make you miss."
The addition of Shell boosts Pittsburgh's recruiting class to No. 16 in the
team recruiting rankings.
Hopewell is 4-2 on the season and faces Central Valley on Friday night.
