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Separating themselves: Shell, Smallwood look even better than Seider expected

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With Rushel Shell and Wendell Smallwood entrenched as West Virginia’s top ballcarriers, their position coach essentially can spend fall camp practicing his superlatives, right?

JaJuan Seider glowingly obliged us Wednesday.

“Rushel’s body is in best shape it’s been in a long time,” said Seider. “The first two days of practice he looked really crisp. Great cutting and getting upfield fast.”

WVU running back Rushel Shell watches from the sidelines during preseason practice.

Currently listed at 5-foot-10 and 221 pounds, Shell’s physique has turned from pudgy to powerful since transferring from Pitt in the summer of 2013 and sitting out a year.