Pittsburgh got a huge boost to its Class of 2012 from a local source this morning as Aliquppa (Pa.) Hopewell running back Rushel Shell pledged to be a Panther during a press conference on Friday at the school.
In the end, Shell, the No. 51 prospect in The247 and the No. 4 running back nationally, chose the Panthers over Alabama. He also had a host of scholarship offers from all over the country.
The 6-foot, 215-pound back becomes the 17th member of Todd Graham's Class of 2012. Just joins a class that features four-star offensive lineman Adam Bisnowaty, three-star quarterback Chad Voytik and a host of other three star prospects.
Shell has already rushed for 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. He is the all-time leading rusher in the WPIAL with 7,827 yards and could catch the state's all-time leading rusher Jeremiah Young, who finished his career at Steelton-Highspire with 9,027 yards. Shell entered the season 2,261 yards behind Young.
He is the No. 2 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania according to 247Sports.com.
