Justin Harrell
{{Short description|American football player (born 1984)}}
{{About|a former American football player|the American recording artist and rapper|38 Spesh}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Justin Harrell
| image = Justin Harrell 2007.jpg
| caption = Harrell with the Green Bay Packers in 2007
| number = 91
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|2|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Martin, Tennessee, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 315
| high_school = Martin (TN) Westview
| college = Tennessee (2002–2006)
| draftyear = 2007
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 16
| pastteams = * Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
| highlights = * Super Bowl champion (XLV)
- Second-team All-SEC (2005)
- Cotton Bowl Classic Defensive MVP (2005)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 28
| pfr = HarrJu99
}}
Justin Tyrell Harrell (born February 14, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Green Bay Packers 16th overall in the 2007 NFL draft and was part of their Super Bowl XLV championship against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Early life
Harrell was named the 2A Mr. Football in Tennessee and was named All-American by PrepStar recruiting service. During his senior season at tight end he caught 18 passes for 354 yards and six touchdowns. Harrell attended Westview High School in Martin, Tennessee where his team was a state runner-up his senior year.{{Cite web |title=Justin Harrell, Tennessee Volunteers, Defensive Tackle |url=https://247sports.com/player/justin-harrell-49961/college-84774/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=247Sports |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Westview High School Chargers · Martin, TN (Weakley County) |url=https://tssaasports.com/school/index.cfm?id=313&sportid=1 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=TSSAA |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2001 |title=Tonio 10th grade vs Westview |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-tonio-10th-grade-vs-west/22534382/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=The Jackson Sun|via=Newspapers.com |pages=22}} He started three years in basketball and averaged 17 points per game. He also started all four years in football.
College career
Harrell attended and played college football at the University of Tennessee.{{Cite web |title=Justin Harrell - Football |url=https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/justin-harrell/14732 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 3/8
| weight = 300
| dash = 5.08
| ten split = 1.77
| twenty split = 2.97
| shuttle = 4.79
| cone drill = 7.63
| vertical = 30.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 0
| bench = 31
| arm span = 34 1/2
| hand span = 9 3/4
| note = Sources:{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/justin-harrell/32004841-5231-1429-3a78-fa04f0b19627 |title=Justin Harrell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=July 6, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=17456&DraftYear=2007 |title=2007 NFL Draft Scout Justin Harrell College Football Profile |access-date=July 6, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
At the 2007 NFL draft, Harrell was selected 16th overall in the first round by the Green Bay Packers. He was the second defensive tackle taken in the draft after Amobi Okoye (Texans).{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/draft.htm |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Harrell took part in only limited drills with the Packers in their organized team activities (OTA) practices as a result of the torn biceps tendon suffered while playing for Tennessee. Harrell was cleared to practice with the team at the preseason camp which began July 28. Harrell immediately drew criticism for showing up to OTA and Training Camp his rookie season out of shape and slightly overweight.
On July 27, 2007, Harrell signed a six-year contract with the Packers.{{Cite web |last=Pasquarelli |first=Len |author-link=Len Pasquarelli |date=July 28, 2007 |title=Packers reach agreement with 1st-rounder Harrell |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2952334 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The deal reportedly had a maximum value of just under $15 million with approximately $8 million guaranteed. Harrell played in his first NFL game on October 7, 2007, against the Chicago Bears in Week 5.
Harrell spent 2008 training camp on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. On August 25, he was placed on the Reserve/PUP list, forcing him to miss the first six weeks of the regular season. He was activated on November 1 after defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila was released. On August 4, 2009, Harrell again injured his back during training camp practice and was inactive for the entire 2009 season.
In the season opener of the 2010 football season, Harrell suffered a torn ACL{{Cite web |last=Leahy |first=Sean |date=September 13, 2010 |title=Packers: Ryan Grant has 'significant' ankle injury; Justin Harrell to IR |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/09/packers-ryan-grant-has-significant-ankle-injury-justin-harrell-to-ir/1 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=USA Today}} and was placed on Injured Reserve, ending his season.{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2010 |title=Packers Sign Nance And Wynn, Place Grant And Harrell On I.R. |url=https://www.packers.com/news/packers-sign-nance-and-wynn-place-grant-and-harrell-on-i-r-2779716 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Packers.com |language=en-US}} He earned a Super Bowl title when the Packers defeated the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201102060pit.htm |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
As of the conclusion of the 2010 season, Harrell had participated in just 14 regular season games over four seasons. He was released on July 28, 2011.{{Cite web |last=Rosenthal |first=Gregg |date=July 28, 2011 |title=Release tracker |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/release-tracker |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/justin-harrell/14732 Tennessee Volunteers bio]
{{2007 NFL Draft}}
{{Green Bay Packers first-round draft picks}}
{{Green Bay Packers 2007 NFL draft picks}}
{{Super Bowl XLV}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrell, Justin}}
Category:People from Martin, Tennessee
Category:Players of American football from Tennessee
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football defensive tackles