Leach 'Officially' Names G. Harrell Starting QB

[MrMustang1965]

From the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Sunday, Aug. 20 edition:

by Don Williams, Avalanche-Journal

Graham Harrell was expected to be a multi-year starting quarterback for Texas Tech from the time he made his oral commitment two weeks before Halloween in 2003.

To turn the expectation into reality, he had to sit through two fifth-year seniors and then slug it out with one of the best young quarterbacks Mike Leach has ever had.

But his time is at hand.

Harrell was named the team's No. 1 quarterback on Saturday, after he'd battled redshirt freshman Chris Todd through spring practice and the first two weeks of August workouts. Leach said after Saturday's workout that he would go with Harrell if Tech had a game today. The first one is on Sept. 2 against Southern Methodist.

"It's nice,'' said Harrell, a 6-foot-3, 197-pound sophomore from Ennis. "It's something that's been kind of a goal is to come out the starter. It's a relief in that sense, but it's not a time to let down and quit working. We've got two weeks to get ready for the first game, then we have a straight-through season of no off weeks. We've got two weeks to get ready for that.''

At 6-2 and 212 pounds, Todd is bigger than Harrell, runs better when forced out of the pocket and even makes some throws Harrell can't, Leach said during preseason practice. But where to go with the football in Tech's quick passing game is usually the trump card, and it's the one Harrell held.

"He's just a little more automatic as far as reacting to what a defense gives him,'' Leach said, explaining the decision. "They're both good candidates, but Graham's quicker at reacting to what the defense presents and adjusts well.''

Harrell has played little the last two years, learning as he sat behind Sonny Cumbie in 2004 and Cody Hodges in 2005. He did get into five games last season, completing 36 of 51 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns.

Leach said Harrell has shown during camp that he can make a variety of throws, and his poise has long been recognized as a forte by Tech coaches.

"I've been impressed with the way he does verticals,'' Leach said. "I've always been impressed with the way he reacts quickly to things.

"I'll tell you what he's throwing as good as anybody I've had right now is slants. Part of it is, he does a great job sorting out which slant (to throw). We'll fire two (receivers running) slants at somebody, one's better than the other, and he's really good at deciding which slant's the best.''

Todd declined interviews after Saturday's workout, but it's not necessarily the last he'll be heard from.

Quarterback competitions have been a near-annual event in Tech camps the last several years - Kliff Kingsbury versus B.J. Symons, Symons against Sonny Cumbie, Cumbie versus Robert Johnson and Harrell against Hodges.

There are signs that this one was - and still might be - different than the others. Even after he'd advised Harrell and Todd of his decision Saturday, Leach left their practice snaps the same, and said they might not be adjusted much.

Normally, Leach lets the starter run two-thirds of the plays and gives the backup the rest.

Leach said Todd is ''further along than anybody I've ever coached at that age.''

"I don't think this is a big milestone thing,'' Leach said. "Everybody acts like it is, and right now Graham's in front, but I think Chris is going to get quite a few reps this year.''

Harrell has been almost a household name since he arrived at Tech, thanks to his prolific high school career. He finished sixth nationally in career passing yards (12,532), third in career touchdown passes (167) and second in single-season touchdown passes (67).

"I came from a school that had a very similar offense,'' Harrell said. "I think that kind of helped me pick it up as a freshman and in the early years. Now that I've been here a couple of years, you kind of get experience and kind of being in the system for a while, things just begin to click. I hope to continue to get a better understanding and continue to work hard.''

[FroggieFever]

Smeew: PLEASE beat Tech!

[PK]

Smeew: PLEASE beat Tech!

We would love to...that would put them in a foul mood for their next game in Ft. Worth.

[CalallenStang]

MM1965, nice Forrest Gregg quote there in your sig