But unlike his unemployed brethren, Graham Harrell doesn’t have to send out resumes to hundreds of...

But unlike his unemployed brethren, Graham Harrell doesn’t have to send out resumes to hundreds of prospective employers.

Every NFL team knows he has thrown the most TD passes (134) of any NCAA quarterback. Everyone knows about the honors and awards he gobbled up after Texas Tech’s stellar 2008 season.

They just aren’t impressed.

"I’m still hoping, but the NFL is a fickle deal," Harrell said Saturday while playing in a golf tournament at The Champions Course at Weeks Park. "I would have liked to have gotten drafted, but that’s just the way it goes."

The list of stat-studded Red Raider quarterbacks during Mike Leach’s tenure is long. Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie and Cody Hodges all torched college competition but couldn’t latch on in the pros.

Harrell, who attended a rookie camp with the Cleveland Browns in May but wasn’t signed, had expected a better fate.

Still, he has no regrets from his days at Tech.

"I had a blast out there," Harrell said. "We played a great brand of football, and Coach Leach’s offense is a great one to play in."

Duncan: From the Bullpen (July 13) : Columnists : Times Record News

over 2 years ago Seth C 6 comments 0 recs |

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Harrell

Should have been drafted. It is a denying NFL that is present now that simply does not recognize true talent sometimes because of their pre-draft judgemental approach to players. Should no team pick him up, it will be remembered as one of the worst decisions by the NFL, as a whole, ever.

TTpilk

by TTpilk645 on Jul 13, 2009 8:02 AM CDT reply actions

he’d have to catch on somewhere and do well for that to happen…

by kayakyakr on Jul 13, 2009 8:11 AM CDT up reply actions

This is just one of the (many) reasons I have been turning off my TV on Sunday and enjoying something with my family. It makes me furious when many players in the NFL screw up and given chance after chance when breaking the law from guns to drugs.Then you have a guy like Harrell that deserves to play and has WON the right to be drafted and is ignored.What a travisty!!!!

by slycanyon on Jul 13, 2009 11:47 AM CDT reply actions

I worry that, with camps opening in just over two weeks, he still hasn’t signed a FA contract. Anywhere. Not even Canada (Does anyone know if he had any offers from north of the border and just didn’t accept them for whatever reason?).

We are missing something here. There has got to be a real reason nobody is interested. An entire league can’t be that wrong in their assessment, can they? I mean, the Dallas Cowboys will give a roster slot to a reality show winner. Eric Crouch spent some time in the league as a QB…so did a ton of nobody’s who never were anyone in college. Very weird.

Looks like it will take an injury in camp for someone to give him a shot. Even though it’s well documented that I never felt he’d be a great pro, I really thought he’d have landed somewhere by now…feel bad for him.

by Tech92 on Jul 13, 2009 2:14 PM CDT reply actions