TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Wagner L. Shell Jr. 1981–2021 Former Professional Football Player, Personal Fitness Trainer, High School Coach K nown as "Lin-J," Wagner L. Shell, Jr. (Omicron Delta 2002) entered the Chapter Invisible on July 29, 2021, his senior year. As a senior, Shell earned first-team All-Pioneer Football League honors as a return specialist averag- ing 21.2 yards per kick return and 13.1 yards per punt return.
By Aaron Williams
after-school program at Woodland Acres Elementary for over 15 years.
In 2018, Shell was in the news for bravery. He was teaching physical edu- cation at Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville when he disarmed a woman who had retrieved a gun and returned to a school gym where an altercation had ensued. Brother Wagner Linzel Shell, Jr. is survived by his parents; son: Wagner Linzel Shell, III; brother Christopher (Nicole) Shell; sister Brittany Shell; nieces: Arianna and Aniya Shell; grand- mother Carolyn P. Johnson and a host of close friends, relatives, teammates, and former students.
at age 39. Shell was a former col- lege football player at Jacksonville (FL) University (JU). Shell was born in Gainesville, FL, on October 22, 1981, to Wagner Sr. and Rosalind (née Johnson) Shell. In high school, Shell earned All-District and All-Metro honors in football at Orlando, FL's Edgewater High School, where he was also a four-year letterman and MVP in track. Shell attended Jacksonville (FL) University, where he played defensive back and return specialist for the JU Dolphins football. He started eight games as a sophomore and contributed as a true freshman in seven games as well. His career punt return average of 13.1 yards is the best in JU history, and is fourth all-time in kickoff return yardage and tied for sixth in career interceptions. He was a Preseason Second Team All-American going into
Shell played professional football initially for teams in the Arena Football League before moving to the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2009. Shell was a defensive back for four CFL teams over six seasons. He played on the 2014 Grey Cup Champion Calgary Stampeders and played in two CFL All- Star games. He did try out for the NFL Philadelphia Eagles the year after their Super Bowl-winning season. After retiring in 2015, Shell returned to Jacksonville, where he taught physi- cal education, coached football, girls weightlifting, and girls flag football at Jean Ribault High School. He was pas- sionate about working with children and teens and encouraged them to reach their potential. Shell had become a football coach at Jackson High School in Jacksonville, FL. He also worked in the
Beloved athlete, friend, and member of the community.
THE JOURNAL ♦ SUMMER 2021 | 59
VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING
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