Russel Shell not welcomed back to Pitt

(TribLive) - Pitt officials have decided not to allow running back Rushel Shell to return to the university, a source close to the situation said Monday.

Shell, who said in April he wanted to transfer to UCLA, had reached out to Pitt officials in recent weeks about a possible return. He had decided not to attend UCLA, because he wants to remain close to his 16-month-old twin daughters.

Shell was No. 1 on Pitt's running back depth chart through the first two weeks of spring practice when he told Chryst he wanted to transfer.

Big news from Pitt football today after rumors over the weekend caught wind that Rushel Shell was looking to return to the Panthers. Once and for all it seems like we can hop of the Rushel Shell roller coaster. I for one love the move by Pitt. Shell is more of a symbol of the Pitt program that went through head coaches like Kim K. rolled through athletes, not the program that Paul Chryst and his staff are trying to rebuild. I think the fact that he wanted to reunite with Todd Graham almost lets you know he was never going to be onboard with the new staff. 

He's a true talent but I'm not buying the "want to be closer to my daughters" thing. I mean he went to visit UCLA, so he knew where it was when he chose them in April. When it all happened I wasn't surprised that he picked a school on the other side of the country, mainly to get away from his baby mama. Once you mix that with LA women I think a lot of people thought, "well ya, maybe he's not as dumb as he looks".

Sooner or later the truth will come out. I'm sure he has a million different people in his ear about what to do. All hoping he makes it so they can get a sliver of his soul. Distant "Uncles" giving advice has ended well for a lot of other athletes with great potential. God speed, Rus.