Graham Harrell

Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Graham Harrell


college = Texas Tech
conference = Big 12
sport = Football
position = QB
class = Redshirt
major = History
career_start = 2005
nickname =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 203
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1985|5|22
birth_place = Brownwood, Texas
highschool = Ennis High School, Ennis, Texas
career_highlights =
awards = 2006 Insight Bowl MVPcite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263630135|title=Down 31, Texas Tech rallies for biggest bowl comeback|accessdate = 2007-05-11|date = 2006-12-29|publisher=ESPN.com] 2007 Sammy Baugh Trophy
2008 Gator Bowl MVP [ [http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/gamecenter/recap/NCAAF_20080101_VA@TXTECH Texas Tech Red Raiders, NCAA Football, Virginia Cavaliers - CBSSports.com ] ]

Graham Harrell (born May 22, 1985 in Brownwood, Texas) is an American college football player. He currently starts at quarterback for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.cite web |url = http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/harrell_graham00.html |title = Player Bio: Graham Harrell |accessdate = 2007-05-11 |date = |format = HTML |publisher = Texas Tech Football] Harrell won the Sammy Baugh Trophy in 2007.

High school career

Prior to coming to Texas Tech, Harrell played at Ennis High School in Ennis, Texas, where he was coached by his father Sam Harrell. He started at quarterback for three seasons and led the Fighting Lions to a state Class 4A title as a sophomore. He also played in the 2004 Oil Bowl, receiving the offensive MVP award.cite web |url = http://www.nflhs.com/StateStories.aspx?id=6769&state=LA |title = Texas Beats Oklahoma in 67th Annual Oil Bowl |accessdate = 2007-05-11 |date = |format = HTML |publisher = NFLHS.com]

By the time he graduated, Harrell held the Texas high school records in the following categories:cite web |url = http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/highschools/schoolday/stories/091505dnspocentralcover.17729b79.html |title = SchoolDay: Oh, brother! |accessdate = 2007-05-11 |date = 2005-09-15 |format = HTML |publisher = "Dallas Morning News"]
*Single-season passing yards (4,825 in 2003 over 15 games; the next two quarterbacks on the list set their records over 16-game seasons). This record stood until 2007 when Lake Travis quarterback Garrett Gilbert broke it by two yards (though he also did it over a 16-game season). [cite news |first=Danny |last=Davis |url=http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/highschool/01/11/0111prepfoot.html |title=It took a while, but Lake Travis confirms Gilbert's third state record |accessdate=2008-02-07 |date=2007-01-10 |work=Austin American-Statesman]
*Career passing yards (12,532 from 2000-2003)
*Single-season touchdown passes (67 in 2003)
*Career touchdown passes (167 from 2000-2003)
*Single-season pass completions (334 in 2003)In addition, Harrell ranks second in career pass completions (805 from 2000-2003).

Collegiate career

Freshman season

In 2004, Harrell redshirted during his first season at Texas Tech. The next season, as backup to quarterback Cody Hodges, he played in several games, racking up 422 passing yards.

ophomore season

Harrell started in every game of the 2006 season and, with his 4,555 passing yards, became the third-most sophomore passer in NCAA Division I-A history and first of the Big 12.cite web |url = http://www.big12sports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2006-2007/confldrs.html |title = Big 12 Football: Leaders |accessdate = 2007-05-11 |date = |format = HTML |publisher = Big12Sports.com] cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/texastech/stories/081107dnspoharrell.304f6bd.html|title=Harrell secure at helm of high-Tech offense|publisher="The Dallas Morning News"|accessdate=2007-08-15|date=George, Brandon|date=2007-08-10] The 2006 regular season, which included wins against the Texas A&M Aggies and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, ended with seven victories and five losses overall (4-4 in the Big 12) and an invitation to the 2006 Insight Bowl. [cite web|title = Texas Tech Red Raiders 2006 Football Schedule|url=http://nationalchamps.net/NCAA/college_football_2006_schedules/texastech.htm|accessdate = 2007-05-11|publisher=NationalChamps.net]

The bowl game, played in Tempe, Arizona, saw the Red Raiders struggle through the first three quarters, scoring only 14 points to the Minnesota Golden Gophers' 38. However, Tech's defense held Minnesota to zero points in the fourth quarter, while Harrell led the offense in scoring 24. In overtime, the Golden Gophers added only a field goal, but the Red Raiders scored a touchdown to win the game, 44–41, with the largest come-from-behind victory in NCAA FBS bowl history.

Junior season

Prior to his junior season, Harrell announced that he will continue to play for the Red Raiders for the remainder of his college career instead of leaving early for the 2008 NFL Draft. He reiterated this in December 2007. [cite web|title = Texas Tech QB Harrell confirms he’ll return for senior season|work=Dallas Morning News|date=2007-12-20|url=http://colleges.beloblog.com/archives/2007/12/texas_tech_qb_harrell_confirms_hell_retu.html|accessdate=2007-12-22]

On September 27, 2007, Harrell was honored as AT&T's All-America Player of the Week. [ [http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18863530&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475011&rfi=6 MyWestTexas.com - September 28, 2007: Tech's Harrell honored ] ] The following Sunday, he appeared ninth on the list for CollegeFootballNews.com's Top 10 Player Race for Week Five. Teammate Michael Crabtree was also on the list. [ [http://cfn.scout.com/2/685475.html Scout.com: Top 10 Player Race - Week Five ] ] On October 11, 2007, AT&T announced that Harrell was again the AT&T All-America Player of the Week. This marked the second time in three weeks that he was honored with the award. [ [http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101107aab.html Harrell Selected for AT&T Honor - Again! :: Junior quarterback receives honor by way of fan vote after performance against Iowa State] ] Harrell was the 2007 recipient of the Sammy Baugh Trophy recognizing the nation's top college passer. [cite web|url=http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112607aaa.html|title=Harrell Captures Sammy Baugh Trophy|publisher=CSTV.com|accessdate=2007-11-27] He is the third Texas Tech quarterback to receive the award, following Kliff Kingsbury (2002) and B.J. Symons (2003).

enior season

Before the beginning of his final season, CBS Sports listed Harrell as a Heisman hopeful. Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree's name also appeared on the list. [cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/heisman|title=Heisman Hopefuls|publisher=CBS Sports|accessdate=2008-04-10] Harrell was also named one of 26 candidates for the 2008 Unitas Award, given to the nation's best senior college football quarterback. [cite news|url=http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/BREAKING02/80613058|title=MU's Chase Daniel on Unitas Award watch list] Additionally, his name appeared among 30 other quarterbacks in the Davey O'Brien Award watch list. [cite press release|url=http://www.daveyobrien.org/adminnm/templates/press.asp?articleid=111&zoneid=16|title=2008 O’Brien Quarterback Award Watch List Released] Harrell, along with Coach Mike Leach and teammate Michael Crabtree were featured on the cover of the 2008 edition of "Dave Campbell's Texas Football". [cite web|url=http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=26057|title=Campbell picks Cove to win District 12-5A|publisher="Killeen Daily Herald"|date=2008-06-17|accessdate=2008-06-20]

Following the inaugural game of the 2008 season, where Texas Tech defeated the Eastern Washington Eagles, 49–24, Harrell was selected as the AT&T ESPN All-America Player. [cite web|title=Texas Tech: Harrell Named AT&T All-America Player of the Week|publisher=NCAA|date=2008-09-04|url=http://www.ncaa.com/football/article.aspx?id=342596|accessdate=2008-09-05] Following the Red Raiders 58–28 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats, Harrell received two more honors. He was recognized as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and the O'Brien Quarterback of the Week. [cite news|last=Price|first=Dwain|title=Texas Tech: Graham Harrell named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week|date=2008-10-07|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/college_sports/story/956579.html|accessdate=2008-10-07] cite web|title=Harrell named O'Brien Quarterback of the Week|publisher=NCAA|date=2008-10-07|url=http://www.ncaafootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=34&url_article_id=13954&change_well_id=2|accessdate=2008-10-07] During the game against Kansas State, Harrell broke the all-time record for passing yards at Texas Tech. The previous record, set by Kliff Kingsbury, was 12,429 yards. After the game, Harrell's record stood at 12,709 yards.

To support the Heisman campaign of both Harrell and Crabree, Texas Tech created a website called PassOrCatch2008.com, which is modelled after political campaigns. The site has garnered national attenton. [cite news|last=Williams|first=Don|title=Tech site gets national attention|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=2008-10-08|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/100808/spo_341503548.shtml|accessdate=2008-10-10]

Personal

Graham Harrell is the son of Sam and Kathy Harrell. He was born in Brownwood, where his father served as assistant coach to Gordon Wood. Harrell has an older brother, Zac, and a younger brother, Clark Harrell, who played a year at quarterback for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Clark transferred from Tulsa after his freshman season and is looking to play for a Division I FCS or Division II school. [cite news|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?articleID=20080716_2__Tulsa53401|title=Quarterback Clark Harrell leaving TU]

Sam Harrell, Graham's father, was the highest paid high school coach in the Dallas area as of the 2005-06 academic year. [ [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/highschools/topstories/stories/010806dnspocoachsalaries.2a4475f.html "Dallas Morning News:" High school football coaches cashing in] ] He coached at Reagan County (1990-1993) and Ennis (1994-"present").

ee also

*2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
*2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team

References

External links

* [http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/harrell_graham00.html Player bio]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=160425 Statistics]