QB Clark Harrell Decides to Transfer from Tulsa
7/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 16, 2008
Tulsa, Oklahoma - University of Tulsa Head Football Coach Todd Graham announced today that sophomore quarterback Clark Harrell has decided to transfer. Harrell informed Graham of his decision earlier today, and indicated that he would most likely transfer to a Championship Subdivision (formerly Div. 1-AA) or Division II school.
Harrell was one of three quarterbacks competing for the starting quarterback position. Senior David Johnson is the leader of the quarterback race heading into fall camp, while junior college transfer Jacob Bower, also a sophomore, has been competing for the position as well. In addition, GJ Kinne has joined the Golden Hurricane after transferring from the University of Texas. Kinne will have to sit out the 2008 season.
"We think the world of Clark Harrell. The quarterback position is really competitive and Clark wanted to be in a position where he'd have a better opportunity to play right away," said Graham. "We appreciate the hard work and dedication Clark has put forth at The University of Tulsa, and wish him the very best."
Harrell came to Tulsa from Ennis High School where he threw for 3,924 yards as a senior. He sat out the 2006 campaign for the Hurricane and saw action in two games last year. Harrell completed 10-of-13 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game.
"My plan will be to transfer to a university where I won't have to sit out a season. It was a hard decision. I really love this place. I love the coaching staff. I love my teammates. It was a really tough decision. I'm just trying to make the best decision for me," said Harrell. "I'm not going to have a chance to play football the rest of my life, and now that I've been in college for a couple of years, I'm just trying to make the best decision on my playing career and future.
"I feel I'm good enough to play here, but there's also a chance with three of us competing right now and four with GJ (Kinne) coming in and eligible to play next year, someone is not going to play. I like my chances, but that's just reality. So to avoid the possibility of sitting five years, if that were to happen, and not be happy, I just felt it was best to leave now and go somewhere else," added Harrell.
"One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was going in and telling Coach Graham, who I've known for a long time, telling Coach Malzahn, Coach Blankenship, and some of my friends. It was very tough. These are guys I'm going to try to keep in touch with for the rest of my life, and to not play with them anymore will be tough. It was a big decision," said Harrell.
