Graham Harrell: Undrafted and Still Unsigned
Written by MC Homer, Thursday May 07 2009
Evidently, the NFL has no use for a three-year starter at a major D-1 college football program who put up very impressive numbers. Yes, Texas Tech runs a spread offense, so Graham Harrell’s numbers can be viewed as inflated, but going undrafted and still unsigned? I can’t wrap my head around this logic. Maybe that’s why I don’t receive a paycheck from any professional football teams, yet, but I’m still holding out hope.
Mr. Harrell finished his collegiate career with incredible numbers, as do most quarterbacks who run a spread offense. In his four years, he amassed 15,793 yards and 134 touchdowns while throwing only 34 interceptions. He completed 69.8% of his passes over that span. He also finished fourth in the 2008 Heisman Trophy voting.
I still know that he ran the spread offense, but he only threw 34 interceptions, obviously he takes too many chances, right? Wrong. The spread offense utilizes short routes such as crossing patterns and slants, helping Harrell avoid a higher number of incompletions and interceptions. But to his credit, he only had one weapon who will play regularly on Sundays, and he was drafted 10th overall by the 49ers, Michael Crabtree.
Get this, Colt Brennan was drafted in the 6th round of the 2008 draft by the Redskins. Brennan has similar numbers to Harrell, in fact, he threw less TDs (by only three) and more INTs (eight more). You may try to argue that Colt Brennan declared for the draft after his junior season, and Harrell stayed an extra year. Okay, I hear your point, but Harrell played behind Cody Hodges after redshirting as a freshman. Graham only threw for 422 yards with three TDs in 2005, his first on the field with the Red Raiders. Oh yeah, and one more thing, Brennan played for
The Cleveland Browns recently brought Harrell in to their mini-camp. According to some, they liked him, saying he picked up the offense quickly and has great potential, but with four QBs on the roster, decided to let him walk. Other than Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, the Browns have Brett Ratliff and Richard Bartel on their roster at the position. Wait, who? They must be real up-and-comers. Or not.
Chances are, Harrell will have at least a practice squad job by the end of training camp, but I’m extremely surprised he has yet to be signed. The man obviously has skills and you don’t put up those kinds of stats without any. Going against him however, is the likes of Alex Smith, the former top overall draft pick of
NFL coaches and scouts know what they are looking for and evidently Graham Harrell does not have it. Chances are, he will catch on with someone, but his numbers tell me he has the skill to play at the next level. I’m not saying he will be a perennial pro-bowler, but I’d be willing to bet he could at least hold down a backup role, given the opportunity. It just goes to show, astonishing numbers like Graham Harrell’s don’t always lead to a pro contract, it may even hurt your chances.
Photo Credit: Karl Anderson / Icon SMI
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14 comments
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TigersFan and MC Homer, I appreciate your insight, and I am sure Harrell would too. I love the point about Leaf! Tom, drafting any player is always a risk--just ask the Titans how Vince Young is working out so far. To imply that the NCAA passing king is not worthy of a draft pick is simply nonsense. Harrell was hurt mostly by the fates of those other Tech QB's in front of him who didn't fare well in the NFL, yet Harrell's nerve and accuracy makes him a much better QB than any of his predecessors.
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Didn't Timmy Chang get drafted a couple of years ago as well? Judging these guys off of their system is a load of b.s. I'm guessing Ryan Leaf played in a pro-style system and did it translate into him being a pro-caliber qb? Nada. I belive that Alex Smith played under Urban Meyer and we all know the wacky system Urban Meyer has, definitely not considered pro-style, and wasn't Alex Smith drafted immediately in the first round? Hmm, I just wonder sometimes what these people are thinking when they draft players. Shoot, even the Lions could've picked this guy up in the 7th round and gave him a shot. It's not like we have anything to lose, we lost 16 already.
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Yeah Tom, I'm sure the minimum salary that Harrell would sign for right about now would kill a team's payroll. So, you're basically telling me, because he played in the spread offense, his skills can't be judged at all, right? So every throw he made means nothing, is that what I'm understanding here? He will still be throwing the ball to a reciever who is running a route, won't he? The routes won't be a whole lot different, will they? His footwork might take some time to develop, but no one will ever be able to tell me he doesn't deserve at least a shot at making a roster. It's not like they are judging a star flag-football player. The dude lit it up in college, that has to count for something, regardless of the system he played in. Let me say it again, COLT BRENNAN is on an NFL roster.
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Never forget that insane offense Texas Tech runs. It doesn't really apply to the NFL. You have to have SOME KIND of running game to compete in the NFL. I'm not saying you need Walter Payton to win a Super Bowl but you can't be so one sided. I don't blame the NFL scouts and coaches. It's hard to judge a guy who you have never seen play football the way you want to play. It's a huge risk to sign a player like Harrell - it's like sending out a brand new recipe in a 5 star restaurant to a food critic...you want to see it in action first.
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I find the fact that Harrell is unsigned stunning. It's like finding out some bench player in the NBA is making 5.5 mil a year and hardly plays. Some things in sports just don't make any sense and this is one of them.
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i was stunned that Graham Harrell wasent drafted, especially since alot of no name players were drafted. one of the biggest complaints i heard from kiper, mayock, and shefter was that Graham Harrell's height was a factor? when i ready this i was in disblief so i checked his height and weight, he is perfect body size for the QB position and even if he was to short at 6'1" 230 pounds he still had a NFL sized offensive line and he still racked up stats. im not sure if its the spread system that the NFL dosent like i think its because the NFL perfers the QB's to take the ball from under center more often from a shotgun position, but that shouldnt bring someones draft score all the way to undrafted
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Maybe it's just me, but didn't the '85 Bears make pretty much everyone look bad? It's only like, one of the best defenses ever.
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GM has talent I just think since he did play in the spread that teams are afraid to take a shot ...... CB from hawaii I think would be a good QB if given the chance. Last season he played well when given the chance but Zorn I do not think really cares for CB and I don't know why just a thought... but Zorn I don't think he wants any of the QBs that come to the redskins to do well because he likes the attention focused on him... not his QBs ... I personally don't think Zorn was a great QB just a lot of hype etc... I saw a tape of the Packers playing the 85 bears and Zorn was with the Packers and he stunk
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If any of the teams were to see Graham in You Tube they would take him, no one can say those unheard QBs are better than him
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Well, I agree Art, except for two things, A) Why the Steelers? and B) It's not only the gurus, but the GM's and coaches apparently feel the same way. Your thought provokes one of my own in two parts: 1) What, if any, effect do the gurus have on draft strategies. 2) If the gurus really know what they're doing (and I'm not saying they don't, just don't have the facts in front of me to support them one way or another) why aren't guys like Todd McShay and Mel Kiper working for a team? Wouldn't it be worth some serious money to a team like the Raiders-well any team really, but particularly teams that don't draft well and are horrible as of late-to hit on every pick by hiring one of these guys to assist them in the process? I mean I'm just thinking out loud here, any thoughts anyone? Maybe I'll write a little article as a forum for debate on this topic.
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All of you fellas are correct. I hope Graham gets picked up with the Steelers, Miami, or Minnesota. These three teams offer the best chance for Graham to make is successfully in the NFL. To tell you the truth, I really don't understand why Graham was not dreafted. It makes me sick that the supposed gurus know what they are doing and leave a well deserved QB hanging out to dry as if he already a hasbeen.
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I don't understand why the spread offense hurts Harrell, but not the guy who he was throwing to, doesn't the fact that he has ballooned numbers translate to Crabtree as well, given the fact Harrell supplied every yard Crabtree racked up?
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I agree with both of you--Harrell's most impressive stat was his completion percentage, especially when you consider the number of attempts over his career, particularly in the last two years. I'm not sure what happened to Hodges, but Kingsbury got himself a Superbowl ring as a bench sitter with NE. Symmons had a chance to play for the Texans, and he was looking good in that first preseason game, right up until he held the ball a little too long and suffered a dislocated shoulder during his fourth or fifth play. Still, for Harrell, I believe the biggest injustice was the fact that some other lesser talented guys were drafted--McGee for starters. Hopefully, Graham gets a chance to show he can make it or not.
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The numbers didn't hurt Graham Harrell's chances, the system he played in did. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, fair or not, but there is a perception that the spread offense in college doesn't translate to the NFL and the inflated numbers are because of the system, not because of the talent of the players in the system. Kliff Kingsbury, BJ Symmons and Cody Hodges all put up huge numbers in Mike Leach's offense and none of them had any NFL traction. Harrell is the best talent of that bunch, but it doesn't change the fact that the perception exists and that NFL teams were underwhelmed when he had a chance to work out. There are guys who are great college football players who don't have the ability to play in the NFL. There are great college players who go undrafted and end up making rosters and becoming impact guys. Heck, Tony Romo, Jake Delhomme and Kurt Warner were all undrafted. Harrell will get a shot to come in and make somebody's roster. He could still make Cleveland's if they figure out the logjam at the Quarterback position. Harrell isn't out of options yet. Just because he was undrafted it means he has to work harder to make it in the NFL, but it's not uncommon for very good college players to get overlooked by the NFL.