MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia leading rusher Rushel Shell is expected to play against Oklahoma this week, while the Sooners’ top running back has a broken foot and will miss the game.
Shell appeared to injure his hand or wrist after making a fourth-quarter catch against Maryland. He missed the final 11 minutes as the Mountaineers (2-1) pulled out a 40-37 victory.
“He’s good,” coach Dana Holgorsen said Monday on the Big 12 teleconference. “He’ll be ready to go (against Oklahoma).”
The injury update from Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops on Keith Ford wasn’t so promising. The sophomore, whose six touchdowns lead the Big 12, suffered a fractured foot in a 34-10 win over Tennessee and will miss up to three weeks.
Shell ran for 98 yards and a touchdown on 27 attempts against the Terps, compiling the most carries for a West Virginia running back in 23 games—dating back to Andrew Buie’s 31 against Texas in 2012.
As a freshman at Pitt, Shell’s max was a 25-carry game against Ole Miss in he BBVA Compass Bowl.
Showing toughness on inside runs, Shell has emerged as West Virginia’s top running back with 207 yards on 51 carries through three games. (Wendell Smallwood’s 23 carries are second-most on the team.)
Shell also has nine catches, equaling the number he made the entire season at Pitt.
Trickett wins Big 12 honors: After throwing for 511 yards and earning various national player of the week accolades, Clint Trickett was named the conference’s top offensive player also.
In going 37-of-49 against the Terrapins, Trickett closed the game with eight consecutive completions—including 6-of-6 on the final drive that led to Josh Lambert’s game-winning field goal.
Tonkery returning: Holgorsen said Sam linebacker Wes Tonkery should be healthy for Oklahoma. The fifth-year senior missed the Maryland game with a leg injury suffered in Week 2 against Towson.
The fifth-year senior has 14 tackles in less than five quarters of action this season.