So Rushel Shell is heading to UCLA. Guess he isn’t bothering with an appeal of Pitt’s transfer restrictions as the Arizona St. AD intimated last week.

That’s fine. He will go there. He can sit out the year, play next year and barring injury will likely turn pro.

He will say all the right things to the media and fans. Hopefully he will grow as much as he claims he has and will. I actually do wish him well, if for no other reason than so he can be in a position to financially take care of the two daughters he is leaving behind to go to UCLA.

The bigger question right now is the status of Deaysean Rippy.

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This seems like a move born out of desperation by Trey Zeigler, than anything else.

The 6-foot-5, 203-pound Zeigler averaged 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 31 games this season for Pitt after transferring from Central Michigan. Zeigler’s father, Ernie, a former Pitt assistant, had been fired from Central Michigan following the 2011-12 season. Zeigler was granted a special waiver from the NCAA and was immediately eligible at Pitt.

“We will assist Trey in finding the best situation for him to reach his goals both academically and athletically,” Dixon said. “He’s a great kid, hard worker and good player. We thank Trey for his contribution to our program over the last year and wish him much success in the future.”

I’ve said it a few times, but the worst thing for Zeigler was getting that immediate waiver to play. He didn’t have time to get familiar with the style of Pitt’s offense. Spend a year practicing against his teammates. He tried so hard to fit in on the fly that he was too deferential, tentative and stayed on the perimeter. Rather than utilizing his ability to attack the basket. He needed to be a little more selfish and drive to the basket.

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This is Coach Paul Chryst’s entire statement.

“Rushel and I met on Tuesday morning and he informed me of his final decision to transfer. I wish him only the best moving forward. Out of respect for Rushel, his family and his privacy, this will be my final comment on the matter.”

Just a little editing and he probably could have gotten that out in a single tweet.

Shell is supposed to meet with Pitt coaches and members of the athletic department to discuss his potential transfer destinations. All the noise is that Shell wants to go out West to the Pac-12.

My guess is that the extent of the restrictions on Shell’s transfer by Pitt will be limited to Arizona State and the ACC (including Notre Dame). Otherwise I see no reason to limit his choices.

I don’t exactly wish him well, but I’m not going to hate him. He’s made his choice. He will likely say some more stupid stuff in the next year — I mean beyond foolishly getting into it on Twitter with Mark Madden. Otherwise, I will not have much to say on the kid after he chooses his destination.

Shell’s burned a lot of bridges locally with this drama. He’s now put himself in a position where he has no choice but to work harder than ever to build a life for himself (and hopefully his children). There’s going to be a lot less support around him, and plenty waiting to see him fail. Who knows if he can meet that challenge.

This really shouldn’t be a surprise. Rushel Shell has apparently decided that he still wants to transfer.

The destination isn’t confirmed. It’s rumored that it will be somewhere in the Pac-12. I really can’t believe Pitt would let him go to Arizona State, but there are plenty of other options.

Cynically you can make a logical case for Shell to transfer. Think about it. He is a 4-/5-star talent coming out of high school. He plays as a freshman in a partial load, but not much workload .Shows the potential that tantalizes as a number one back.

He decides to transfer. That means sitting a year. Only practicing with the scout team and working out. He then plays one season. At which point he turns pro. Much lower treadlife on his body/legs. As far as his character, he can point to helping hold the recruiting class together after Fraud Graham. Then he just says, hey, he tried but it just didn’t work with Chryst.A perfectly reasonable rationalization.

Is it bull? Perhaps. But it is also a plausible scenario to sell.

The loss of Shell hurts Pitt this year, and perhaps next year. That really shouldn’t be a debate. Losing talent like Shell is never good. Chemistry and long-term, it isn’t so clear. It’s now up to Chryst and the rest of the team to make his loss negligible.

Okay, so it seems Rushel Shell’s transfer is a little more up in the air than it seemed yesterday. Coach Paul Chryst has issued the “back off” statement.

“Like many college freshmen, Rushel is working through some challenges right now. As it is for all members of our team, my most important concern is his personal well-being. Rushel and his family have our full support. We are giving him time away from football to work through this situation but he very much remains a part of our family on a daily basis. We want to be sensitive and respectful of Rushel, and I would ask others to do the same.”

This really says nothing, but that’s the point. Chryst can’t comment, but has to comment.

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You know, a day ago when I said this: “One thing to watch after the spring practices — and the semester ends. Some more attrition. In Chryst’s first year there were some transfers slowly trickling out. But, it should not be a huge surprise to see a few more after the spring…”

I didn’t think that it would start immediately.

Defensive tackle Terrell Jackson of Columbus, Ohio, who was redshirted last year during his freshman season, intends to transfer and has been granted his release by the university.

Ugh.

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Okay. So it looks like there is just a little bit of turmoil at the moment.

Rushel Shell, who would be Pitt’s marquee running back in its inaugural season in the ACC, is considering transferring to another school and is meeting Wednesday with coach Paul Chryst, a source close to the team told the Tribune-Review.

Another source said Shell, a rising sophomore who was one of Pitt’s most prized recruits in many years, has not asked for his transfer papers. Shell and his mother Toni Zuccaro did not return telephone calls to the Tribune-Review. A university spokesman declined comment.

Yeah. It looks like that is going to happen. Not sure what happened to all the desire to be close to his daughters and all that stuff. Maybe it still is a factor. Maybe he changed his mind about that.

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Wwhhhhyyyyy???????!!!!!!!! Wwwhhhhhyyyyy??????????!!!!!!!!!! Why can’t we have nice things?

Okay, got the whining angst out of the system.

So, the spring practice reports noted that Rushel Shell was not at practice. He had hurt his leg last week, but…

Running back Rushel Shell, who injured his upper leg Friday in practice, was excused Tuesday, although coach Paul Chryst refused to confirm that his absence was injury-related. “Couple things here,” Chryst said. “We’ll kind of work through it and then we’ll see (about Shell returning Thursday). “Not positive on it.”

Okay. I’ve gotten used to vague statements from Coach Chryst. Could be classes. Could be personal. Could be related to the injury.

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When Pitt formally announced the early signings of Soto, Orndoff, Chapman and Jarrett to the football program, there was a curious fifth.

In addition to the freshmen enrollees, Chryst announced that redshirt freshman Dontez Ford, a native of McKees Rocks, Pa., and graduate of Sto-Rox High, has transferred to Pitt from Syracuse. Ford will work at wide receiver this spring.

Ford had made it known he was transferring before Doug Marrone took the Buffalo Bills job, so the two are unrelated.

Now, in the Big East transfers between conference schools is prohibited. So, what gives?

ACC rules.

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It’s been a while since I wrote anything about the football team (okay, it’s been a while since I had some time to write much of anything). So, time to hit the links.

Cam Saddler is back with the team and down in Birmingham. Arthur Doakes, however, is not.

Pitt redshirt sophomore Arthur Doakes , who started the final four games of the regular season at right guard, was suspended for at least one game for violating team policy, a university spokesman said Wednesday. Doakes won‘t play in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Saturday against Ole Miss, but coach Paul Chryst hasn‘t named a replacement. Redshirt sophomore Shane Johnson , who never has started a game in three seasons at Pitt, is listed behind Doakes on the team‘s two-man depth chart. Doakes, 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, had replaced regular starting right guard Ryan Schlieper , who suffered a season-ending ankle injury Oct. 27 against Temple. Doakes is the second Pitt offensive lineman suspended this season. Redshirt junior Juantez Hollins was suspended for the season before the start of training camp.

Nothing to worry about there. Why the last time there was a last-minute loss of an offensive lineman before a bowl game with little to no help behind him it was only the Sun Bowl. No reason to panic. None at all.

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Sorry for the lack of posts. Trying to finish up a lot of work to end the year. Not to mention, once more abruptly searching for a car (and some wrangling with the insurance company over the value of the former car).

This was a surprise. And one that is not good for the next couple years. Malcolm Gilbert decided to transfer so he can play with his brother at Fairfield. Yes, Fairfield.

“Malcolm has asked for his release and has informed me that he wants to play with his brother,” Dixon said. “He’s a great kid, hard worker and good player. We thank Malcolm for his contribution to our program over the last year and a half and wish him much success in the future.”

Obviously, it isn’t an impact this season as Gilbert was redshirting. But he was expected to be a big part of Pitt’s frontcourt over the following seasons.

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Pitt rolled the Rams as expected. As the game was decided early, with J.J. Moore enjoying an outstanding game, much side conversation quickly turned to the status of John Johnson.

Johnson made his displeasure at not getting any playing time on Friday — and having Coach Jamie Dixon explain it away as him being a little under the weather. It surprised few that rumors swirled over the weekend that he was planning a transfer. Now it is official that he is doing so.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said he and Johnson talked several times and that he plans to help the Philadelphia native find another school. Minutes may have been hard to come by for Johnson, as this appears to be one of Dixon’s deepest teams.

“We’ve got a lot of good players and a lot of good guards,” Dixon said.

And that was the problem for Johnson. Despite his own confidence in his abilities, he isn’t as good or experienced as the guys in front of him.

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As most of you have already heard, Pitt is taking a WR transfer from Wisconsin.

[Manasseh] Garner, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound junior, was one of the top players in Pennsylvania in 2009 and considered Pitt before committing to Wisconsin. He has played sparingly at Wisconsin, recording his only two receptions for 45 yards last season. He also played defensive end and special teams.

“He’s very gifted. He’s very fast,” Bielema said after Garner recorded three tackles on kickoff coverage in a victory against Ohio State in 2010. “He’s got a little bit of understanding of ball awareness, football IQ. He’s played a lot of football at different positions, so I think his general football awareness is really good.

Garner is from the Pittsburgh area. He attended Brashear High School, and part of why he is coming back to the area is because he also has a baby. Part of why he didn’t play too much last year was because of nagging injuries.

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Okay. Nothing like late breaking news for a Friday, but…

Quarterback Mark Myers, who had a chance to be Tino Sunseri’s backup this season, is leaving the Pitt football team and hopes to transfer to a Division III school.

Myers’ departure leaves Pitt with three quarterbacks, including freshman Chad Voytik and sophomore Trey Anderson.

Well, nothing like waiting until the last minute. Best of luck to Myers.

Mildly surprised he’s dropping all the way down to D-III. Best guess is he’s moving back to the Cleveland area and will attend one of the many D-III schools — John Carroll, Baldwin-Wallace… That would explain dropping down that far.

That narrows the field of the back-up QB spot to Anderson or Voytik. I really don’t think they are sending Gonzalez back to the QB spot. Voytik’s odds of redshirting just got a little slimmer.

UPDATE: Oh, boy. Left Tackle Juantez Hollins has been suspended for the entire season. For the always nebulous “violation of team policy.” Hollins had also been suspended for the spring game.

Freshman Chris Davis has a suspension for the first week of training camp. He’ll be permitted to join the team on August 12.

A few basketball items to put out there before football becomes the primary.

Lists. Lists. Lists.

Okay, just one. Athlon follows up ranking the coaches in each conference with an overall list of top college basketball coaches. Coach Jamie Dixon ranks 13th on the list which is more than respectable. Izzo ranks first in case you were wondering who was #1.

Still no word on the final game for the non-conference schedule. And hence, no schedule announced from Pitt. As part of the trend, the only pre-season tournament that hasn’t announced its seedings is the one in which Pitt will participate.

The Atlantis Bracket announcement Thursday leaves just one major tournament to be completely unveiled: the 16-team NIT Season Tip-Off Nov. 21-23. The four hosts are Kansas State, Pitt, Virginia and Michigan. If you were to seed this event then it would probably go 1. Michigan. 2. Kansas State. 3. Pitt 4. Virginia. Virginia and Pitt probably have the most to gain. Michigan and Kansas State play in power-rating rich conferences and are playing strong schedules. Pitt is in the Big East, which will provide plenty of RPI pop and quality wins, but has a soft nonconference slate, putting even more pressure on this event.

No matter what, Pitt will get hammered by the punditry for its non-con this year.

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