Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BY LOU SOMOGYI rell played tight end the last two seasons at a program that posted back-to-back 14-1 records and lost in the state semifinals each year, he knows his future in college football is elsewhere. The fact that he caught only five A lthough Charlotte (N.C.) Cath- olic High standout Mark Har- passes for 86 yards in those two years tells you what his specialty is. "We run a real old-school, Wing-T offense, and passing isn't much a part of Charlotte Catholic football," Harrell explained. "We have two wings, two tight ends and no receiv- ers, so blocking is what we mainly do." This past season Catholic averaged Versatile Mark Harrell Moves To Offensive Line OL MARK HARRELL FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE with 305-pound max on bench press and 5.57 time in the 40-yard dash … Also plays power forward on varsity basketball team to aid his footwork and throws the shot put in track to help facilitate strength … Owns 3.61 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and plans to enroll in the Mendoza School of Business. Rankings: Ranked as a four-star prospect, the No. 15 player in North Carolina and the No. 41 offensive 6-5 • 270 • Catholic • Charlotte, N.C. Notable: Born on May 3, 1993 … Three-year starter for 3-A state power Charlotte Catholic … Listed tackle nationally by ESPNU … Listed as a three-star recruit, the No. 17 prospect in the state and the No. 25 offensive guard in the land … Considered a three-star player, the No. 17 recruit in North Caro- lina and the No. 52 offensive tackle in the country … Tabbed as a three-star prospect and the No. 52 tight end nationally by Scout.com … Rated as the 16th-best prospect in North Carolina by SuperPrep. Statistics: Caught four passes for 78 yards in run-oriented offense during his senior season … Also played in short-yardage or jumbo packages on defense, recording 12 tackles (six solo) and a half-sack … As a junior, caught one pass for eight yards at tight end. Honors: Second-team pick on MaxPreps.com's 43 points per game while accumulat- ing 96.1 percent of its offense via the running game. The program has av- eraged about 330 yards rushing per game the past two seasons. Because of his footwork and ability to fire out on linebackers, Harrell was stationed at tight end after starting at right offensive tackle for the varsity during his sophomore year. Notre Dame recruited Harrell 2011 U.S. Air Force All-American team as of- fensive lineman … Second-leading vote-getter among offensive linemen on 2011 Associated Press North Carolina all-state team, behind offen- sive lineman D.J. Humphries (who is headed to Florida) … Named a first-team offensive lineman on the Charlotte Observer All-Observer squad in both 2010 and 2011 … Also a two-time all-area selection by the Charlotte Observer and a three- time all-conference performer. All-Star Games & Camps: Attended football to help fill a future void at center, but he possesses the versatility to help anywhere along the line. In the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas Dec. 18 he lined up at right guard, and in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl Jan. 3 in Phoenix he held his own at center. Harrell made it a point to absorb all the knowledge he could in those all-star games against top-notch competition. "Zone-blocking was something camps at Duke, North Carolina and Georgia Tech prior to junior season … Participated in U.S. Army National Combine in January 2011 … Lined up at right guard in Dec. 18 Shrine Bowl of the Caroli- nas at Spartanburg, S.C., where his North Caro- lina team rallied to defeat South Carolina, 26-19 … Played center in the inaugural Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix Jan. 3, with his team losing 17-14. Brian Kelly's Comments: "He's very versatile. Harrell, 247Sports' No. 55 offensive tackle nation- ally, participated in both the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. He's played at the center position in all-star games, he's played the tackle position, tight end … he can bend, he's flexible, and we like the fact that he is an intense competitor." Catholic Athletics Director/Tight Ends Coach Kevin Christmas' Comments: "He has a competitive spirit, and is a hard worker. He's intelligent about the game, and he goes out to get the job done." Tom Lemming of Prep Football Report: "Nicest kid in the world. He's not ready to play yet at that PHOTO BY JAMIE OAKES/WAHOOS247 new to me, so it was a good expe- rience, especially going against so many good players," Harrell said. At Central Catholic, he received level for a couple of years, but he's an athletic tight end who they wanted along the offensive line. He's got good feet, and he's not afraid of contact. He just needs to put on weight and strength and develop at that position." Recruitment: Attended Notre Dame's junior day Feb. 26, 2011, and received an offer from the Irish top-flight instruction from 76-year- old head coach Jim Oddo — a former All-ACC center for North Carolina State who has been the head coach since 1973; offensive line coach Frank Garcia, who played in the NFL from 1995-2003; and tight ends coach Kevin Christmas, who also is the ath- letics director. "He's a quick study and recep- tive to learning," Christmas said of Harrell. ✦ 36 MARCH 2012 I visited, but I could connect with the student body." Why He Chose Notre Dame: "Academics are a huge part. The football program is second to none. staff two days later … Returned to the campus March 25 to view a spring practice and gave his verbal commitment to his recruiter, defensive line coach/special teams coordinator Mike Elston, May 19 … Took unofficial visits to all four major in-state schools — North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke and Wake Forest — as well as Georgia Tech, Clemson and Auburn … Also received interest from Notre Dame rivals Michigan and Stanford … Took his official visit to Notre Dame Jan. 20. Favorite Part of Notre Dame Visit: "I felt like I didn't connect only with the coaches and players when There's such a strong tradition at Notre Dame. They checked off all the boxes." Scouting Report: Can play any position along the offensive line … Has good forward lean in an effort to be the low man and blocks well in space … Has to keep feet moving on contact, will need to bulk up a lot more and needs technique work as a pass blocker. 2012 Projection: A prime redshirt candidate, and all five Irish offensive line recruits from last year preserved a fifth-year of eligibility … With fifth-year senior candidates Braxston Cave and Mike Golic Jr. out of eligibility after next season, he might be groomed at center. BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED