MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Wendell Smallwood and Rushel Shell made their position coach happy in the season opener with “physical yards” and making correct reads.
The West Virginia tandem, which combined for 139 yards on 19 carries, also impressed assistant Ja’Juan Seider with a moment of sharing in the fourth quarter.
“The reason Wendell had 11 carries and Rushel had eight? Rushel gave him the (last first-team) series because he just scored and he wanted to see his brother get in the end zone,” Seider said.
On the heels of Shell’s 6-yard touchdown run, Smallwood obliged with a 19-yarder of his own, for his fourth career touchdown.