Pittsburgh backfield ready to move on after departure of enigmatic Shell

PITTSBURGH – Isaac Bennett and Malcolm Crockett are eager to prove the loss of Rushel Shell won't doom Pittsburgh's running game.

Shell expected to be one of the top backs in the ACC heading into his sophomore season. Instead, he left the program in the spring and transferred to West Virginia.

His departure leaves the Panthers without their top two running backs from a year ago.

Still, Bennett and Crocket believe they can be just as effective behind Pitt's new-look offensive line. Bennett ran for 237 yards and a touchdown as a freshman in 2011 but was bumped to the third string when Shell arrived on campus.

Bennett says he expects to run for 1,000 yards this season. Pitt kicks off its first year in the ACC on Sept. 2 against Florida State.