The saga that led to former Pitt running back and Hopewell native Rushel Shell transferring from his hometown Pitt Panthers to UCLA was a bit bizarre to say the least.
However if the situation was bizarre before, it just got a little more crazy.
According to a couple of reports, Shell is interested in returning to Pitt. That’s not a typo. Apparently the WPIAL’s all-time leading rusher, the guy who was supposed to be the Panthers featured back for the next two or three years has expressed his intentions about returning.
However don’t get too excited. A lot would have to happen for Shell to return.
First off, UCLA would have to let him out of his commitment to them and allow him to return to Pittsburgh. We saw the same thing happen when the Panthers had to let Shell out of his scholarship and ultimately blocked him from going to Arizona State. Being that the Panthers are in the ACC and far from the Pac-12 Conference, that shouldn’t be much of an issue.
The more pressing issue is whether or not Pitt head coach Paul Chryst would even welcome Shell back?
That’s not a given considering Shell not only turned his back on the Pitt program and high tailed it out of town, but also criticized the Panthers coaching staff before he was granted his release.
Who knows right now how the Shell situation will ultimately play out, but it is bizarre to say the least.
I will have more on the Shell story as more details become available.
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