Graham Harrell, the Texas Tech football program's all-time leading passer, is now set to take his place among the greatest college football players to ever play the game. It was announced on Wednesday that the Ennis, Texas native will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class.
Harrell is going to be one of 18 college football players and four former coaches named to the 2025 class of the College Football Hall of Fame. Their formal induction will take place during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 9 in Las Vegas.
"On behalf of our entire department, I would like to congratulate Graham Harrell on his selection to the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame," Director of Athletics Kirby Hocuttsaid. "There is no higher honor in college football, and it's a fitting recognition for one of the game's top quarterbacks. We look forward to recognizing Graham and his family throughout this next year leading into his induction in December."
Harrell will be the seventh Red Raider in the College Football Hall of Fame. He will join E.J. Holub (inducted in 1986), Donny Anderson (1989 class), Dave Parks (2008 class), Gabe Rivera (2012 class), Zach Thomas (2015 class), and Michael Crabtree (2022 class).
Harrell was the Red Raiders' starting quarterback for three seasons. He finished his career with 15,793 passing yards and 134 touchdown passes, the latter of which was a national record at the time.
Playing in the "Air Raid" offense of Mike Leach, Harrell threw for over 5,000 yards in both 2007 and 2008. Of course, as a senior, he led Tech to an 11-2 record and the unforgettable win over No. 1 Texas that saw him find Crabtree for the game-winning 29-yard touchdown with just one second to play. After that game, the Red Raiders jumped to No. 2 in the national polls, the highest ranking the program has ever achieved.
Almost 20 years after his college career ended, Harrell still holds the conference's all-time records for career completions and touchdown passes. What's more, he ranks second in Big 12 history for career passing yards, career attempts, and career completion percentage (69.4). Additionally, he remains the only quarterback in Big 12 history to lead the league in passing yards in three different seasons.
Harrell also holds eight national records. He is the all-time leader in passes completed in a season (512), most passes completed on average per game in a season (39.4), most passes completed per game in a career (31.2), most games gaining 400 Yards or more passing in a season (11), most games gaining 400 yards or more passing in a career (20), most yards gained on average against one opponent per game in a career (486.3 in three career games against Texas), Most seasons gaining 4,000 yards or more total offense (3), and most games gaining 400 yards or more total offense in a career (21).
After his Red Raider career ended, Harrell played one year in the CFL before having stints with the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets in the NFL spending most of his time with both franchises primarily on their practice squads.
Since then, he has entered the coaching ranks. He has served as the offensive coordinator for Purdue, West Virginia, USC, and North Texas.
Certainly, this honor is well-deserved given what Harrell meant to college football. As the most successful quarterback in Texas Tech history, he helped make the "Air Raid" offense popular not only in the college game but across all levels of football where it has changed the way the game is played. Now, he will forever be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.