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Justin Harrell | Defensive Tackle | Tennessee | 6'4" - 310 lbs.
OVERVIEW
To say that certain player wear their hearts on their sleeves is an understatement when it comes
to what Harrell did in 2006. The team captain knew that after the Volunteers struggled in 2005,
that all the veterans were needed to step up and take charge in 2006. Harrell was primed for a
banner senior campaign, but in the second game, he suffered an arm injury.
The team doctors ruled Harrell lost for the season and scheduled surgery, but the gritty veteran
postponed the procedure one more week. He had his arm heavily bandaged and stepped out on
the field with the starting unit for a crucial match-up vs. Florida. The Vols fought valiantly and
Harrell produced three tackles with a stop behind the line of scrimmage, but the Gators rallied for
a 21-20 decision. Right after the game, the team lost their fallen hero for the rest of the year, as
he finally had surgery, bringing his Tennessee career to a close.
Harrell was a standout defensive lineman at Westview High School. He was selected
Tennessee's Class 2A "Mr. Football" in 2001, adding Prep Football Report and Prep Star All-
American honors. He was named West Tennessee's Defensive Player of the Year by the
Jackson Sun and earned Class 2A All-State accolades, as he helped the 2001 team to a
13-2 record and a state runner-up finish. After his final season, he played in the Georgia-
Tennessee All-Star Game.
A three-year starter on both offense and defense, Harrell caught eighteen passes for 354 yards
and six touchdowns as a tight end and recorded 72 tackles as defensive lineman, including 19 for
loss, four sacks and eight pass deflections as a senior. During his junior campaign, he caught 21
passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 61 tackles, 12 for loss, and
deflected four passes. He was also a three-year starter in basketball, as he averaged 17 points
per game his senior season.
Harrell enrolled at Tennessee in 2002, spending the season performing on the scout team. Hard
luck with injuries limited him to eight games as a reserve defensive tackle in 2003. He missed
more than half of spring drills after right leg surgery. In fall camp, he broke his ankle, sitting out
the first five games. When he returned, he re-injured the ankle after just one snap vs. Miami and
saw limited action the rest of the year. He finished with ten tackles (5 solos), a stop for a loss and
a quarterback pressure.
In 2004, Harrell started the team's first eleven games at right defensive tackle, before an ankle
injury vs. Kentucky would limit his play in the final two contests. He registered 26 tackles (17
solos) with eleven pressures, 1.5 sacks and 4.5 stops for losses. He also batted down four
passes and recovered a pair of fumbles.
Harrell started all eleven games in 2005, shifting to left tackle. He totaled 39 tackles (21 solos)
with 2.5 sacks and 7.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He intercepted a pair of passes,
returning one for a touchdown and was credited with eight pressures. He also caused one fumble
and batted away three passes. For his performance, he earned second-team All-Southeastern
Conference honors.
The defensive captain started the first three games of the 2006 season at left tackle before
missing the rest of the season. He posted seven tackles (3 solos) with a pressure and a stop for a
loss. With Harrell in the lineup, the team averaged 2.33 sacks per game. With Harrell sidelined,
the team managed just an average of one sack per contest.
In 35 games, Harrell started 25 contests. He registered 82 tackles (46 solos) with four sacks for
minus 32 yards and 14 stops for losses of 57 yards. He collected 21 quarterback pressures,
recovered two fumbles and caused four others. He knocked down eight passes and intercepted
two for 36 yards in returns, including a touchdown.
CAREER NOTES
Of Harrell's 25 starting assignments, eleven came at right defensive tackles and fourteen others
were on the left side...In 2006, the defense averaged 2.33 sacks per game with Harrell in the
lineup, but that figure reduced to just 1.0 sacks for each of the ten contests he missed.
2006 SEASON
Super Sleeper Team selection and preseason All-Southeastern Conference choice by The NFL
Draft Report...The defensive captain was sorely missed in the ten games he was forced to sit out
due to arm surgery...He started the team's first three games before having the procedure and
actually played in the Florida contest with the injury that he suffered in the Air Force clash...He
finished his interrupted season with seven tackles (3 solos), a stop for a 1-yard loss and one
quarterback pressure.
2006 GAME ANALYSIS
California...Opened the season with a pair of assisted tackles...Pressured QB Nate Longshore
into throwing a second-&-5 incomplete pass that was intended for Robert Jordan on the game's
first series from scrimmage...Head to Head Competition-OG#55-Greg Van Huesen.
Air Force...Registered two solo tackles...Head to Head Competition-OG#62-Curtis Grantham.
Florida...Heavily taped because of his arm injury, Harrell shocked Volunteer fans when he
stepped on to the field to start the game. He went on to make three tackles that stopped the
Gators for no gain on all three running plays he was involved in...Harrell tackled DeShawn Wynn
at the line of scrimmage on a second-&-1 run from the UF 46 five minutes into the game...At the
start of the second quarter, he pressured QB Chris Leak, who rolled out of the pocket to go down
for a 1-yard loss and three plays later, Harrell teamed with defensive end Xavier Mitchell to take
down Wynn for no gain on a first-&-10 run at the UT 22...Head to Head Competition-OG#67-
Drew Miller.
2005 SEASON
Associated Press and The NFL Draft Report awarded Harrell All-Southeastern Conference
second-team honors...SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week vs. Alabama-Birmingham...
Started all year at left defensive tackle, recording 39 tackles (21 solos) with 2.5 sacks for minus
10 yards and 7.5 stops for losses totaling 16 yards...Credited with eight quarterback pressures
and deflected three passes...Intercepted two others for 36 yards in returns and one touchdown.
2005 GAME ANALYSIS
Alabama-Birmingham...Opened the season with his first career interception, returning the ball 29
yards and added four tackles (3 solos).
Florida...Made eight tackles (3 solos), including one that stopped tailback Kestahn Moore for a 1-
yard loss on a run up the middle with 9:29 left in the first half.
Louisiana State...Followed with six tackles (2 solos) and a pair of stops behind the line of
scrimmage, including one that stopped tailback Joseph Addai for a 1-yard loss with 9:35
remaining in the game...Earlier in the third quarter, Harrell took down Benny Brazell after a 3-yard
catch on a third-&-9 play, forcing the Tigers to settle for a 42-yard field goal.
Mississippi...On the game's first play from scrimmage, Harrell teamed with linebacker Kevin
Simon to tackle Mico McSwain for a 3-yard loss on a run from the Ole Miss 20...Two plays later,
Harrell sacked QB Mike Spurlock for a 4-yard loss (along with defensive end Parys Haralson) on
a third-&-3 play, as the Rebels were then forced to punt.
South Carolina...Posted four solo tackles with three stops behind the line of scrimmage...
In the third quarter, Harrell teamed with linebacker Kevin Simon to take down Mike Davis for a 1-
yard loss and two plays later, Harrell joined fellow tackle Jesse Mahelona to bring down Davis for
a 3-yard loss...With 1:37 remaining in the game, Harrell again stopped Davis for a 1-yard loss on
a run at the UT 40.
Notre Dame...Credited with a pressure, a sack and two solo stops for losses of 3 yards...
Sacked QB Brady Quinn for a 1-yard loss with 11:14 left to play and with 6:50 left on the clock,
Harrell tackled tailback Travis Thomas for a 2-yard loss on a first-&-goal run from the UT 8.
Vanderbilt...Harrell's only tackle was a 7-yard sack of QB Jay Cutler on third-&-10 with 3:03 left to
play...Late in the first quarter, Harrell also batted down a second-&-goal pass thrown by Cutler
from the UT 5.
Kentucky...Closed out the season with four tackles (3 solos), an interception, a pass break-up
and a forced fumble...Batted away a third-&-10 pass thrown by Andre' Woodson that was
intended for Curtis Pulley early in the first quarter...Late in the third quarter, Pulley attempted an
option pass, but Harrell intercepted the pass at the UK 7 and returned it 7 yards for a
touchdown...With 9:24 left to play, Harrell caused a fumble when he knocked the ball out of
Pulley's hands at the UT 28.
2004 SEASON
Harrell started the team's first eleven games at right defensive tackle before an ankle sprain vs.
Kentucky forced him to see limited reserve action in the team's final two contests...Finished with
26 tackles (17 solos) with 1.5 sacks for minus 22 yards, 4.5 stops for losses of 36 yards and
eleven quarterback pressures...Caused three fumbles and recovered two others...Also deflected
four passes.
2004 GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Posted one tackle, a pass deflection and a pressure vs. Nevada-Las Vegas...Caused a fumble
that he recovered and collected two tackles with a pair of pass deflections in the Georgia
clash...Added two pressures and three tackles vs. Mississippi...Totaled four tackles with a pair of
stops behind the line of scrimmage vs. South Carolina...Had two tackles and two pressures vs.
Notre Dame...Recovered a fumble and delivered a solo tackle and a pressure in the Vanderbilt clash...Was forced to leave the Kentucky game with an ankle injury...Named Cotton Bowl
Defensive MVP after coming up with three tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery vs. Texas
A&M.
2003 SEASON
Missed most of spring drills after undergoing right leg surgery and then sat out the team's first five
games with a right ankle sprain suffered during the first week of August camp... Re-injured his
ankle after only one play vs. Miami upon his return and saw limited action the rest of the
year...Appeared in the team's final eight games, recording ten tackles (5 solos) with a stop for a
4-yard loss, a pass deflection and a pressure...Posted a season-high three tackles vs. Duke and
added two more in the Georgia clash.
2002 SEASON
Redshirted as a freshman.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
5.08 in the 40-yard dash...500-pound bench press...500-pound squat...315-pound power
clean...30-inch vertical jump...33 1/4-inch arm length...10-inch hands.
COMBINE AGILITY TESTS
5.08 in the 40-yard dash...1.77 10-yard dash...2.97 20-yard dash...4.79 20-yard shuttle...
7.63 three-cone drill...30.5-inch vertical jump...9'0" broad jump...Bench pressed 225 pounds 24
times.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Westview (Martin, Tenn.) High School, playing football for head coach Don
Coady...Standout defensive lineman who was selected Tennessee's Class 2A "Mr. Foot-ball" in
2001, adding Prep Football Report and Prep Star All-American honors...Named West
Tennessee's Defensive Player of the Year by the Jackson Sun and earned Class 2A All-State
accolades, as he helped the 2001 team to a 13-2 record and a state runner-up finish...After his
final season, he played in the Georgia-Tennessee All-Star Game...A three-year starter on both
offense and defense, Harrell caught eighteen passes for 354 yards and six touchdowns as a tight
end and recorded 72 tackles as defensive lineman, including 19 for loss, four sacks and eight
pass deflections as a senior...During his junior campaign, he caught 21 passes for 291 yards and
three touchdowns...Defensively, he recorded 61 tackles, 12 for loss, and deflected four
passes...Three-year starter in basketball, as he averaged 17 points per game his senior season.
PERSONAL
Sports Management major...Born Justin Tyrell Harrell...Resides in Martin,
Tennessee.
| DEFENSIVE STATISTICS |
| Year |
GP |
GS |
TK |
SO |
AS |
FR |
FC |
INT |
TFL |
PBU |
SK |
PRES |
| 2003 |
8 |
0 |
10 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1.0-4 |
1 |
0.0-0 |
1 |
| 2004 |
13 |
11 |
26 |
17 |
9 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
4.5-36 |
4 |
1.5-22 |
11 |
| 2005 |
11 |
11 |
39 |
21 |
18 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
7.5-16 |
3 |
2.5-10 |
8 |
| 2006 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1.0-1 |
0 |
0.0-0 |
1 |
| Total |
35 |
25 |
82 |
46 |
36 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
14.0-57 |
8 |
4.0-32 |
21 |
INTERCEPTION RETURNS (2005): 2 for 36 yards (18.0 avg), 1 TD, Long 29
Bios courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com
distributed by The Sports Xchange
© Copyright 2006/07 - All Rights Reserved
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