Rushel Shell’s long, winding journey since leaving Pittsburgh has finally come to a conclusion. Well, at least for now.
Anyway, the running back confirmed to ESPN.com‘s Brett McMurphy that he will be transferring to West Virginia to continue his playing career. Shell’s mother also confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that her son is headed to the Mountaineers.
Shell will be compelled to sit out the 2013 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules but will have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2014.
For the record, WVU has yet to confirm Shell’s addition to the roster.
“Things went really well down at WVU,” Shell told McMurphy. “I enjoyed every moment of it. We toured the campus and facilities and I got a chance to hang out with other recruits and players on the team.
“They made my visit terrific and made me feel like family.”
In early April, Shell announced that he would be transferring from Pitt. While it was initially thought Shell would transfer to UCLA -- after being barred from playing for Arizona State -- those plans fell through and the player was subsequently connected to Kentucky and Ohio State along with WVU.
A report also surfaced in June that Shell was considering a return to the Panthers, although the team quickly put the stop to any such talk.
As the primary backup to Ray Graham last season, Shell rushed for 641 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman. Both of those totals were good for second on the team, and tops among returning backs.
He was rated as the No. 6 running back in the country in the Class of 2012 by Rivals.com.
Shell is the second transfer back WVU has picked up this offseason. In June, Charles Sims announced that he was signing with the Mountaineers after leaving Houston. Unlike Shell, however, Sims will be eligible to play in 2013 as he’s already received a degree from UH.