Graham Harrell Biography

Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets can see a coach’s son light up the record books from high school to the NCAA!

Graham Harrell: High School Star
With one of the best coaches in Texas high school football as a father in Sam Harrell, Graham Harrell was born into great expectations. The life of a quarterback is never easy, but the life of a coach’s son playing quarterback can be one of the hardest things for a young man to do. Graham Harrell excelled under the pressure and became one of the best players in Texas by his sophomore year. As quarterback for the Ennis Fighting Lions, Graham Harrell would win the Texas State Championship his first year out.

Graham Harrell was like a man playing a boy’s game in high school, and all eyes in the Big 12 were on this young man. By the time he was a senior, Graham Harrell had made his place in the record books by breaking Texas high school records in passing yards, touchdowns, and any other stat a quarterback values. Like future rival Colt McCoy, Graham Harrell did not receive too much press due to his playing in a smaller division. Texas Tech Red Raiders coach Mike Leach, however, saw the perfect QB for his vaunted spread offense.

Graham Harrell: Freshman
Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets were already enjoying the offensive antics of QB Sonny Cumbie as Graham Harrell endured his first year with a redshirt. Though he did not play, Graham Harrell gained a great deal of knowledge in the spread offense and also got valuable reps against college players in practice. Graham Harrell stood and watched with thousands of fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets as the team upset the No. 4 California Golden Bears in the 2004 Holiday Bowl.

Graham Harrell would sit through most of his redshirt freshman year as a backup to Cody Hodges. Graham Harrell got playing time though and impressed his coaches and fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets alike as he showed poise when given the opportunity to conduct the complex offense. The Texas Tech Red Raiders had a good year under Cody Hodges, but Mike Leach knew that Graham Harrell would have the team running like never before.

Graham Harrell: Starter
As a sophomore, the entire Big 12 got a taste of what No. 6 could do to them. Even with no defense or running game, Graham Harrell managed to put up 4,500 yards passing and had 40 total touchdowns on the year. Graham Harrell was already a favorite of fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets, but he arrived on the national radar with a fantastic Insight Bowl Game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. In that game, Graham Harrell led the Texas Tech Red Raiders to the biggest comeback in Bowl Game history and brought a Bowl trophy back to Lubbock.

Graham Harrell: Michael Crabtree
Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets watched Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree quickly develop a friendship and a supernatural chemistry on the field. The 2007-08 NCAA season would be a magical time for the Texas Red Raiders and Graham Harrell. Michael Crabtree exceeded all expectations and quickly climbed the ranks to the No. 1 spot in all of college football WRs.

As the season progressed, Graham Harrell put up over 5,700 yards passing with Michael Crabtree taking in almost 2,000 of those yards. To boot, 48 passing touchdowns to 14 interceptions and a passer rating of 157.3 put Graham Harrell up as a possible Heisman candidate. Graham Harrell and fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets were also glad to see Michael Crabtree bring in 22 touchdowns on his way to his own history. As winners of the Sammy Baug and Fred Biletnikoff Awards respectively, Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree were recognized as the best QB/WR combo in the nation.

Graham Harrell: 2008 Red Raiders
Entering his senior year, Graham Harrell was ready to finally take his Heisman Trophy. A revamped defense quickly gave the Texas Tech Red Raiders a chance to beat any team, and pressure was off Graham Harrell. The combination of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree shredded the Big 12 as they blew out every team put in front of them. The Texas Tech Red Raiders showed toughness in an overtime victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The season would be a wash if the Texas Tech Red Raiders could not beat Colt McCoy and the No. 1 Texas Longhorns.

Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets sold at a record pace never before seen as the Texas Longhorns rolled into Lubbock. Graham Harrell was not only dueling with Colt McCoy, but the best pass rusher in college football, Brian Orakpo, was waiting for him as well. With 1:30 left in the fourth quarter, down by one point, Graham Harrell marched the Texas Tech Red Raiders down the field as the seconds quickly slipped away. With only a few measly ticks on the clock left, Graham Harrell connected with Michael Crabtree for a 28-yard touchdown and the stunning victory.

Graham Harrell: Heisman & NFL Draft
The touchdown gave Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree their “signature moment” that almost all Heisman Trophy winners need. As the No. 2 ranked team in the country, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are primed for the biggest game of the year, the BCS Championship. It will be up to Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree to carry the team to the ultimate prize. Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets are glad to be able to see the record-setting combo live on the way to NCAA history.