Graham Harrell
quarterbacks coach | |||||||
Personal information | |||||||
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Born: | Brownwood, Texas, U.S. | May 22, 1985||||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 217 lb (98 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Ennis (Ennis, Texas) | ||||||
College: | Texas Tech | ||||||
Undrafted: | 2009 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
As a player: | |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
As a coach: | |||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com |
Graham Stanton Harrell (born May 22, 1985) is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the offensive coordinator for the Purdue Boilermakers. He played college football for Texas Tech Red Raiders from 2004 to 2008. He played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL) for 5 seasons from 2009 to 2013, with his longest tenure as a player with the Green Bay Packers. He served as the offensive coordinator of the North Texas Mean Green (2016–2018), USC Trojans (2019–2021) and the West Virginia Mountaineers (2022).
Harrell was born in Brownwood, Texas. He attended high school in Ennis, Texas. After high school graduation, he enrolled at Texas Tech University and played quarterback for the Red Raiders, starting for three seasons. As a fifth-senior in 2008, he was named a first-team All-American quarterback, Heisman Trophy finalist in 2008, and set school, conference and national records for passing yards, attempts, completions, and touchdown passes.
After going undrafted in the
Early years
Harrell was born to Sam and Kathy Harrell in
- Single-season passing yards (4,825 in 2003 over 13 games; the next two quarterbacks on the list set their records over 16-game seasons). This record stood until 2007 when it was broken by Lake Travis quarterback Garrett Gilbert.[3]
- Career passing yards (12,532 from 2000 to 2003; Broken by Gilbert in 2008).[4]
- Single-season touchdown passes (67 in 2003)
- Career touchdown passes (167 from 2000 to 2003)[5]
- Single-season pass completions (334 in 2003; also broken by Gilbert, who recorded 359 completions in 2007).[6]
In addition, Harrell ranks second in career pass completions (805 from 2000 to 2003).
Playing career
College career
Freshman and redshirt freshman seasons
In 2004, Harrell
Sophomore season
Harrell started in every game of the 2006 season, beating out classmate
The 7–5 Red Raiders faced off against the 6–6 Minnesota Golden Gophers at the
Junior season
Harrell declined to enter the
Senior season
Entering his senior season, Harrell had 89 career passing touchdowns, putting him within range of Colt Brennan's NCAA record of 131 touchdowns.[8] 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.[9] Harrell was also named one of 26 candidates for the 2008 Unitas Award, given to the nation's best senior college football quarterback.[10] Additionally, his name appeared among 30 other quarterbacks in the Davey O'Brien Award watch list.[11] 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.[12]
To support the Heisman campaign of both Harrell and Crabtree, Texas Tech created a website called PassOrCatch2008.com, which is modeled after political campaigns. The site garnered national attention and was awarded a Telly Award which honors the best in local, regional, and cable commercials and programs, as well as online videos, films, and commercials.[13][14] After leading the Red Raiders to a victory over the #1 Texas Longhorns, Harrell and teammate Daniel Charbonnet were selected for Big 12 Player of the Week honors.[15] Harrell also overtook Texas quarterback Colt McCoy at the top of the Heisman poll.[16] Harrell was also one of ten finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and one of thirteen finalists for the Davey O'Brien Award.[17][18][19]
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.[20] After 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.[21][22] 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.[22] Following the 63–21 win over #18 Kansas on October 25, 2008, Harrell was again named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. Teammate Matt Williams was named the Special Teams Player of the Week.[23] After Tech's 65–21 loss to Oklahoma, Harrell's chances of winning the Heisman were reduced.[24] Harrell finished fourth in the Heisman race but did not receive an invitation to attend the presentation ceremony. Michael Crabtree finished fifth.[25]
In the final regular season game against Baylor, Harrell shattered two of his fingers (the pinkie and middle finger) of his non-throwing hand during the second quarter. At halftime, Harrell's hand was x-rayed, and medical examiners advised Harrell to discontinue playing in the game. Harrell replied, "Tape my hand up. I'm going out." Harrell played the rest of the game with black tape around his fingers. He finished with 309 total passing yards and two touchdowns. With the victory, Tech clinched a share of the
On December 2, 2008, Harrell and teammate Michael Crabtree were named as Walter Camp Award finalists.[27]
On December 4, 2008, the American Football Coaches Association compiled its 2008 AFCA Coaches' All-American Team, with Harrell headlining the list.[28]
On October 25, 2008, Graham Harrell passed Philip Rivers to move into sole possession of third place for passing yardage in a career. On November 22, 2008, Harrell passed Ty Detmer to move into second for passing yardage in a career behind Timmy Chang.[29] On January 2, 2009, Harrell played his final collegiate game, a 34–47 loss to Ole Miss in the 2009 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. In the game, Harrell finished his college career with an NCAA all-time record of 134 passing touchdowns, breaking the previous mark of 131 set by Colt Brennan. He also equaled Brennan's record of 147 career touchdowns passing, rushing, and receiving, a record that would be broken the following year by Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour. Harrell also compiled 5,111 passing yards in the season, becoming the first NCAA player to post multiple 5,000-yard passing seasons.[30]
NCAA records
Harrell holds 8 Individual NCAA records. See also
NCAA record | Statistic |
Most passes completed in a season[31] | 512 (2007) |
Most passes completed on average per game in a season[31] | 39.4 (2007) |
Most passes completed per game in a career[31] | 31.2 |
Most games gaining 400 Yards or more passing in a season [31] | 11 (2007) (13 Games) |
Most games gaining 400 yards or more passing in a career[31] | 20 (Tied) |
Most yards gained on average against one opponent per game in a career[31] | 486.3 (Minimum 3 Games, vs Texas) |
Most seasons gaining 4,000 yards or more total offense[31] | 3 (Tied) |
Most games gaining 400 yards or more total offense in a career[31] | 21 (Tied) |
The NCAA Records book also mentions Graham Harrell for the following items:[31]
- Single-game yards passing: 646 (Rank 6th) (Vs Oklahoma St. September 22, 2007)
- Single-game yards, total offense: 643 (Rank 7th) (Vs Oklahoma St. September 22, 2007)
- Single-game attempts: 72 (Rank 23rd) (vs Oklahoma November 17, 2007)
- single-game completions: 48 (18th) (vs UTEP September 8, 2007)
- Single-game completions: 47 (Rank 20th) (vs Oklahoma November 17, 2007)
- Season yards passing: 5,705 (Rank 2nd) 2007
- Season yards passing: 5,111 (Rank 8th) 2008
- Season yards total offense: 5,614 (Rank 5th) 2007
- Season yards total offense: 5.096 (Rank 13th) 2008
- Season yards per game passing: 438.8 (Rank 3rd) 2007
- Season yards per game passing: 393.2 (Rank 14th) 2008
- Season yards per game total offense: 431.8 (Rank 3rd) 2007
- Season yards per game total offense: 392 (Rank 18th) 2008
- Season touchdown passes: 48 (Rank 7th) 2007
- Season touchdown passes: 45 (Rank 14th) 2008
- Career yards passing: 15,793 (Rank 4th)
- Career yards total offense: 15,599 (Rank 5th)
- Career yards passing per game: 351 (Rank 3rd)
- Career yards per game total offense: 346.6 (Rank 5th)
- Career touchdown passes: 134 (Rank 3rd)
- Annual total offense champion: 2007
NCAA records reference (Last referenced for 2015 season) [31]
Awards and honors
Harrell has received multiple honors, including the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
2006 | MVP
|
Selected | [7] |
2006 | All-Big 12 | Selected for honorable-mention | |
2006 | Academic All-Big 12 | Selected for first-team | [32] |
2007 | AT&T ESPN All-America Player of the Week | Selected twice | |
2007 | All-Big-12 | Selected for second-team | |
2007 | Sammy Baugh Trophy
|
Winner | |
2007 | Academic All-Big 12 | Selected for first-team | [33] |
2008 | 2008 Gator Bowl MVP | Selected | [34] |
2008 | AT&T ESPN All-America Player of the Week | Selected four times | |
2008 | Academic All-Big 12 | Selected for first-team | Posted a 4.00 GPA[35] |
2008 | AFCA Coaches' All-American | Selected | [28] |
2008 | National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete | Selected | [36] |
2008 | Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award | Winner | [37][38] |
2008 | Heisman Trophy | Candidate | Finished fourth[39] |
2008 | All-Big 12 | Selected for honorable-mention | |
2008 | The Sporting News 2008 National Player of the Year | Selected | Co-national player of the year with Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy[40] |
2008 | AT&T All-America Player of the Year | Winner | Voted on by fans[41] |
Professional career
Pre-draft
Following his senior season at Texas Tech, Harrell entered the
Saskatchewan Roughriders
On July 20, 2009, Harrell signed a two-year plus an option contract with the
Green Bay Packers
Harrell signed with the
On September 30, 2012, Graham played in his first game for Green Bay. Coming in for one snap in the red zone, Harrell took the snap to hand off to Cedric Benson, but was tripped by his center, resulting in a fumbled hand off and a lost fumble.[49] Harrell appeared in four regular-season games, completing 2 of 4 passes for 20 yards. He hosted a weekly sports talk show called the "Witt Ford Red Zone with Graham Harrell" every Monday during the 2012 season on 104.1 FM WRLU and archived at DoorCountyDailyNews.com.[50]
Harrell struggled in the pre-season and on August 24, 2013, USA Today reported that Green Bay would be releasing Harrell, as former Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young outplayed Harrell according to the Packers coaching staff in the pre-season.[51]
New York Jets
Harrell was signed by the New York Jets on August 28, 2013. He was brought in after reserve quarterback Greg McElroy re-injured his knee. Harrell played for one series at the end of the Jets' final 2013 preseason game against the Eagles in relief of Matt Simms.[52] He was released on September 2, 2013, after the Jets signed Brady Quinn.[53]
Coaching career
Early career
Harrell first started coaching by accepting a quality control position at Oklahoma State when Mike Gundy hired former Tech offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen to run the Cowboy offense. Harrell helped tutor the OSU quarterbacks with the new Air Raid system that Gundy had hired Holgorsen to run. Harrell left OSU to play football in Canada. After not playing in the NFL during the 2013 season, Harrell joined the coaching staff at Washington State in April 2014, re-uniting him with his college coach Mike Leach. Harrell was given the position of offensive analyst.[54] In February 2015, Harrell was named the football program's outside receivers coach, replacing Dennis Simmons.[55]
North Texas
In December 2015, former Texas Tech running backs coach Seth Littrell was named head football coach at the University of North Texas. Harrell became one of Littrell's first hires, as he was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UNT. Despite being named OC at North Texas, Harrell said he would honor his contract with Leach and WSU and coach the Cougars in the Sun Bowl.
At UNT, Harrell inherited an offense that had ranked in the bottom 25 of the country in passing, total yards, and points in 2015. He improved the unit such that his offenses were ranked in the top 26 nationally in passing, total yards, and points in both 2017 and 2018. [56]
USC
On December 7, 2018, UNC-Chapel Hill sports site Inside Carolina claimed that Harrell had accepted the role of offensive coordinator at the University of Carolina–Chapel Hill, but Inside Carolina retracted the claim hours later.[57] On January 29, 2019, Harrell was hired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Southern California (USC) under head coach Clay Helton.[58]
West Virginia
On January 10, 2022, Harrell was hired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at West Virginia University.[59]
Purdue
On December 20, 2022, Harrell was named the offensive coordinator for the Purdue Boilermakers.[60]
Personal life
Harrell is the son of Sam and Kathy Harrell. His grandfather served as assistant coach to
Sam Harrell, Graham's father, was the highest paid high school coach in Texas as of the 2005–06 academic year.[61] He coached at Reagan County (1990–1993) and Ennis (1994–2009) before retiring from coaching duties in December 2010 due to health problems. Sam returned to the sidelines after over two years of aggressive treatment for multiple sclerosis,[62] coaching in Brownwood under Bob Shipley, father of Jacksonville Jaguars and former Texas wideout Jordan Shipley.[63] After a short stint as the offensive coordinator for the Southwestern Assembly of God University Lions in Waxahachie, Texas, Sam returned to Ennis High School as the head coach of the Ennis Lions.
Harrell has been married to Brittney Tomlinson of Tyler, Texas since March 2012. They have a son, Herschel Hawk who was born in 2015.[64][65]
See also
- 2006 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
- 2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
- 2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
- NCAA Division I FBS passing leaders
- List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders
- List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders
References
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- ^ "Harrell overtakes McCoy in Heisman poll". Austin American-Statesman. November 3, 2008. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
- ^ "Harrell Among Unitas Finalists: Texas Tech senior quarterback one of 10 vying for prestigious award". Texas Tech Athletics. October 14, 2008. Archived from the original on October 18, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
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- ^ a b "Harrell named O'Brien Quarterback of the Week". NCAA. October 7, 2008. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
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- St. Petersburg Times. December 2, 2008. Archived from the originalon December 6, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ a b "Texas Tech's Harrell Headlines 2008 AFCA Coaches' All-American Team". American Football Coaches Association. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
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- ^ "Graham Harrell Wins Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award". Official Texas Tech Athletic Site. December 8, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
- ^ "Harrell 2008 Johny Unitas Golden Arm Award" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
- ^ "Sooners' Bradford Wins Heisman Trophy".[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Texas Tech QB Harrell named co-national player of the year". The Dallas Morning News. December 17, 2008. Archived from the original on January 18, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
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- ^ Note on Graham and Bateman Reports
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- ^ Montoro, Mike. "Football Announces Graham Harrell as Offensive Coordinator". Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ D.J. Fezler (January 20, 2022). "Purdue Football Officially Announces Graham Harrell, Kevin Kane as Coordinators". www.si.com. FanNation. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
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- ^ Harrell, Sam (September 23, 2013). "Sam Harrell demonstrates his progress after receiving umbilical cord stem cells + fat stem cells for multiple sclerosis". CellMedicine.com. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
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