University of Tennessee Athletics
DEFINITION OF A VOLUNTEER
September 22, 2006 | Football
Sept. 22, 2006
By Austin Ward, UT Sports Information
He didn't come to Tennessee to leave a personal legacy.
Justin Harrell is too modest for that.
But he did come to help UT build on its legacy, to continue its storied tradition and lay the groundwork for future Vols.
Justin Harrell is almost too perfect for that.
In a collegiate career that was longer-than-expected and entirely-too-short all at once, Harrell defined what it means to be a Volunteer.
He was selfless and a good teammate. He was a dominant defensive force and a relentless competitor.
Harrell put a degree before a pro signing bonus, and, when the time came, the chance to don the Orange and White once more ahead of all else.
The lure of a big payday couldn't keep him away from Rocky Top for one more season, and a ruptured bicep suffered against Air Force couldn't keep him off the field one last time a week later.
"Justin Harrell is a Volunteer," defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "He'll always be a Volunteer."
Nobody could have blamed him for leaving early.
Not after stuffing the defensive stats sheet - 39 total tackles, 2 ½ sacks, 7 ½ tackles for loss, two interceptions and a couple more forced fumbles last year - for one of the best defenses in the nation last year.
The Martin native looked and played like he was NFL-ready as a junior. The draft advisory committee agreed, projecting the 6-4, 300-pounder as a potential second-round pick, but the one guy who wasn't convinced was also the most important in the decision-making process - Harrell.
"The NFL is just a whole different deal," he said. "There were a whole lot of things that go into the decision that I just wasn't ready for."
Agents, trainers, contracts - Harrell said he wasn't quite ready to enter the business world. Head coach Phillip Fulmer helped his defensive standout test the draft waters and check out where he stood, but Harrell said preparations for leaving UT didn't go any further than that.
He still had work to do on campus.
The disappointment from the 5-6 season and the bitter taste it left in Harrell's mouth could have driven him away from UT.
But Harrell saw something else - the chance to help make Rocky Top right again.
"We had a couple of conversations about him going to the NFL, and Justin never led me to believe whatsoever that he was going to leave," Fulmer said. "I think that there was certainly some conversation as he looked into the possibility, but he basically said, and he was very honest, that he wanted to get his degree, and that he wasn't ready to go onto a business.
"He's had a good amount of success here, and I think he was more interested in enjoying this year and getting us back on a good track."
The Vols defense was on track from the time Harrell made his Rocky Top return official.
Even now the train isn't really derailed without Harrell, since he said he's not going anywhere this fall. He won't be making any more tackles for the Vols, but the leader of the UT defense said he can still do that without stepping on the field again.
"He provides good leadership, and certainly you expect that from a player of his caliber," Chavis said. "When he made that decision, it gave us a chance to be a really good defense. You're always excited when you get a player like that to come back."
Harrell's comeback gave him a chance to become a better player, and he spent the offseason trying to add a little quickness to improve his pass-rushing ability. His surgery is a setback physically, but Harrell said before the injury that his senior year was more about maturing mentally.
He'll continue to develop his leadership skills as the season continues with Harrell on the sideline, and he's also working on a degree in sport management and still trying to educate himself about the NFL.
"Really, last year was more about people talking to me about the potential for leaving," Harrell said. "I never really decided that I was going to leave. Actually, I was pretty confident that I was going to come back for my senior year.
"Coming off the season that we had last year, I wanted to come back and try to see if I could make some changes and try to learn a little bit more about the NFL and just use this year to mature."
The NFL was also continuing to learn about Harrell this season. It's safe to say more than a few scouts have scribbled about his toughness in their notebooks.
"Not everybody knew about Justin last year," Fulmer said. "He is a great young man and a quality person"
Nobody could have blamed him for not playing.
He will still surely have millions to make next April, so there wouldn't have been any finger-pointing if Harrell elected to play it safe and sit out against the Gators. After all, it had already been announced that he was out for the year, and the Vols were preparing for life without him.
But they could definitely use him. And after testing his arm in practice during the week, he knew that he could play.
For Harrell, that's a no-brainer.
"He's a very unselfish youngster," Fulmer said.
Harrell came back for the Vols twice in one calendar year - from his flirtation with the NFL and a painful injury - and the reasons are essentially the same.
It was never about the money for Harrell - at least not yet - and it was certainly not for the personal attention or accolades.
It was about a Saturday night in Neyland Stadium.
It's the band, the fans and the Vol Walk.
It's also about responsibility, about loyalty and family.
He wasn't ready to leave it behind last year, and there wasn't anything that could keep him away from the field against the Gators.
"He put himself at risk to play one more game for us," fellow senior defensive tackle Turk McBride said. "It's one of the more amazing things I've seen an individual do to pick up a team. To see him out there was amazing for me."
Harrell made three tackles in his finale at UT - also helping to provide plenty of pressure on Florida quarterback Chris Leak - and looked like he'd have to come out of the game at least that many times due to the pain. But, like usual, Harrell kept coming back.
"I want to thank the coaches the players, the whole team, and, in particular, the fans, for all the support they gave me," Harrell said. "It was a special day to get to be able to play. I was glad that I was able to play the whole game.
"I just wish the outcome had turned out a little bit better."
On No. 92's last night - fittingly, the last time the jersey will ever be worn by a Vol - Harrell and the Vols couldn't muster one last comeback. Florida edged UT 21-20 in a thriller, but Harrell left little doubt the outcome of his days at Rocky Top.
The guy is a Volunteer.
Always will be.
