Asking around at a youth football practice in Goose Creek, South Carolina, many kids will tell you the same thing: one day, they hope to play in the NFL.
Brandon Shell was no exception.
“It was always a dream when I was younger,” Shell said. “But reality doesn’t set in until you’re going through the whole draft process, and talking to all the teams, and the scouts, and doing all the workouts, so that’s when it all actually, really hit me.”
Shell was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, as the 158th overall pick. He proudly represented the flagship university of his home state, South Carolina. One year later, he is already competing for a starting job at right tackle against veteran Brent Qvale.
“I think it’s going pretty good” said Shell. “But at the end of the day, that’s all I can do, is put my best foot forward.”
A lot has changed for the Jets in the year Shell has been with the team. A disappointing 2016 season led to the roster being gutted and a new offensive coordinator in John Morton. With that, came a new West Coast style offense that made a year’s worth of learning plays suddenly irrelevant.
Still, Shell has not let the changes set him back.
“The West Coast offense, it’s a lot of verbage” Shell said during Jets camp. “You know, we got a lot more different plays, and different ways to run plays, but you know, I think I’m adjusting to it very well…I kinda actually like it a lot better than the offense we had last year.”
Shell has seen many changes in himself as a player and a person during his time in New York. His physicality has improved, and he’s found a new love for Italian food, but he has not forgotten the most important thing he learned at Carolina.
“Stay focused, don’t get down on yourself,” Shell said.
This is a lesson that has been tested from Shell’s very first start as a Jet. He went head-to-head with Cameron Wake, a Miami Dolphins defensive end who is widely acknowledged as one of the best in the league. Wake is best known by Jets fans, however, for leveling quarterback Bryce Petty during Shell’s first start in December 2016.
“Going against him was like, ‘Wow, he actually is what they say he is,” Shell admitted.
But Shell’s dedication to becoming a Pro Bowl-level player led him straight to the film, so he could improve his game for the next matchup.
“You gotta find out what their strong points and weak points are,” Shell said. “Once you do that, you just gotta find out little tips that will tip off certain things that they do.”
Many players have the drive and work ethic to attempt to go pro, but Shell is grateful the Jets recognized his talent and wanted to give him an opportunity.
“It was kinda wild, because I met with them at the combine, but I didn’t really hear from them after that,” Shell said. “So it kinda caught me off guard, but I was blessed to be put in this opportunity and be in this place to play for this great organization.”
The Jets will open up their season on Sept. 10 in Buffalo against their AFC East rivals, the Bills — quite possibly with Shell blocking on the right.