TOP NCAA QUARTERBACK SIGNS WITH RIDERS

By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostJuly 15, 2009


REGINA — Graham Harrell, a record-setting quarterback who finished fourth in the 2008 Heisman Trophy award race, has signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Jon Persch, Harrell's agent, confirmed Wednesday that the Texas Tech Red Raiders' graduate has agreed in principal with the CFL team. Harrell was attending the ESPY Awards on Wednesday in Los Angeles where he was to receive the award as the top NCAA player of 2008.
Persch said he's to meet Harrell Thursday to complete the paperwork. Harrell is expected to arrive in Regina on the weekend.

"He's incredibly excited (about joining the Roughriders),'' Persch said. "He is very happy about the idea of playing in the CFL.''

Harrell threw for 15,793 yards in his collegiate career and completed an NCAA-record 134 touchdown passes. Harrell threw for 5,111 yards and 45 touchdowns in 2008. Harrell was named winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, which is presented to the top senior quarterback.

Harrell, 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, wasn't selected in the 2009 NFL draft. He participated in the Cleveland Brown's rookie camp and Persch said that Harrell had drawn interest from the United Football League.

"We've moved on from some of the training camp offers that were turning up,'' said Persch. "At the end of the day, he chose the CFL.''

The signing of Harrell means the Riders have five quarterbacks under contract — starter Darian Durant, Steven Jyles, Dalton Bell, Cole Bergquist and Harrell. The Riders are expected to keep all five.

Eric Tillman, the Riders' general manager who is in paid administrative leave, placed Harrell on the team's negotiation list in March. Tillman and Persch have been working on bringing Harrell to Saskatchewan for a number of weeks.

© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post

SUMMARY OF HARRELL'S LAST YEAR IN COLLEGE - 2008

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.[15] 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.[16] Harrell was also named one of 26 candidates for the 2008 Unitas Award, given to the nation's best senior college football quarterback.[17] Additionally, his name appeared among 30 other quarterbacks in the Davey O'Brien Award watch list.[18] 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.[19]

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.[20][21] 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.[22] Harrell also leaped McCoy to make it to the top of the Heisman poll.[23] 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.[24][25][26]

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.[27] 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.[28][29] 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.[29] 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.[30] After Tech's 65–21 loss to Oklahoma, Harrell reduced his chances at winning the Heisman.[31] Harrell finished fourth in the Heisman race but did not receive an invitation to attend the presentation ceremony. Michael Crabtree finished fifth.[32]

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 got 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 Big 12 South title, though fell short at going to the Big 12 Championship Game. On the day following the Baylor game, Harrell underwent a four-hour surgery, in which 17 pins and two plates were inserted into his injured hand to heal nine different breaks. He was later cleared to play in the postseason bowl game.[33]

On December 2, 2008, Harrell and teammate Michael Crabtree were named as Walter Camp Award finalists.[34]

On December 4, 2008, the American Football Coaches Association compiled their 2008 AFCA Coaches' All-American Team, with Harrell headlining the list.[35]

In December 2008, Harrell, Coach Mike Leach, Leach's wife, and Blayne Beal, the associate Tech media relations director, were in Baltimore for the presentation of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award to Harrell. While there, they received an invitation to Washington, D.C., to meet the president. On December 13, 2008, the group toured the White House and met with President George W. Bush, who disclosed that he watches college football on a regular basis. Bush also told Leach that he frequently talks with his 1978 congressional election rival, Kent Hance, the Texas Tech chancellor.[36]

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.[37] On January 2, 2009, Harrell played his final collegiate game, a 34-47 loss to Ole Miss in the 2009 Cotton Bowl.

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. Harrell also compiled 5,111 passing yards in the season, becoming the first NCAA player to post multiple 5,000-yard passing seasons.[38]