If Rushel Shell wants to continue his football career, he’ll have to look farther than his backyard to do it after the Pittsburgh Steelers released the former West Virginia University running back this morning.
Shell signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent shortly after the NFL Draft wrapped up in April. The former five-star recruit from Western Pennsylvania initially committed to Pitt after setting the WPIAL and PIAA records for rushing yards in a high school career, but transferred to West Virginia after his Freshman season.
Rushel had a decent career for the Mountaineers, serving as the head of the Mountaineers’ three-headed monster rushing attack, but never seemed to live up to the expectations that were set for him by the fans. Shell turned in an underwhelming performance at the NFL Combine, only running a 4.74 40-yard dash, the fourth slowest among all running backs. His attempts to improve that time at West Virginia’s pro day were successful, but not by much, with Shell clocking in at 4.65.
Shell could still find himself a spot on an NFL practice squad heading into the season, but it seems as though the odds are against him at this point and he’ll have to go outside his 90-mile bubble to find the opportunity.