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| Todd Harrelson has 43 receptions for 856 yards and 12 touchdowns.
(Joy Lewis | The Virginian-Pilot) |
By Jami Frankenberry
The Virginian-Pilot
CHESAPEAKE
He stands 6-feet-2, weighs about 185 pounds and, in the words of the guy who created him, "looks great" in North Carolina's powder-blue uniform.
Most importantly, he's a blur, racing past defensive backs and ripping down touchdown passes with ease.
"Oh, he's the best on the team," the real Todd Harrelson said, referring to the cyber player of the same name he created in his Xbox 360 college football video game.
Harrelson, a senior at Oscar Smith High School, is months away from suiting up for the Tar Heels, to whom he committed in June. But the real Harrelson is making big plays of his own.
The Tigers (12-0) play Salem (12-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Norfolk State University in the Eastern Region Division 6 championship game.
Harrelson figures to be a factor in South Hampton Roads' biggest football game of the year. He leads the Tigers' highly touted receiving corps in receptions, yards and touchdowns and was All-Southeastern District at receiver, defensive back and kick returner.
Plus, he has some of the same swagger as his video game alter-ego.
"He's a very confident kid, and I don't mean that in a bad way," Oscar Smith coach Richard Morgan said. "He thinks that when he steps on the field nobody can check him. He's got that competitive advantage."
Harrelson, the real one, has established himself as one of South Hampton Roads' most sure-handed pass catchers. He nabbed 25 last season and this year was especially leaned on while teammate Kerry Boykins missed the first four games due to a knee injury.
Harrelson saw more double- teams during that stretch, but he enters Friday with 43 receptions for 856 yards, a whopping 19.9 yards-per-catch average and 12 touchdowns. In last week's 39-3 victory over Bethel, Harrelson caught seven passes for 111 yards and a score.
"As soon as Kerry went down, I knew I had to step in and do more," Harrelson said. "There were more double-teams on me, but that opened up Jamal (Wilson) and Tim (Smith)."
Wilson has 30 catches and Smith 17. Boykins, headed to Maryland, has 28 receptions since his return.
Harrelson was a quarterback and running back in middle school, but has thrived since moving to receiver while playing on Oscar Smith's junior varsity team as a freshman.
Harrelson caught college recruiters' eyes while averaging 24-plus yards per reception as a junior. He picked North Carolina after also receiving offers from Virginia Tech, Virginia, N.C. State and Tennessee.
Harrelson, also a key contributor on the Tigers' basketball team, has been a quick study at receiver. Morgan calls his route-running "flawless."
"It's just repetition," Harrelson said. "You have to just keep going through it every practice so it'll be sharp. Once you do that, it becomes like instinct."
Harrelson's virtual look-alike has the same instincts.
Still, not everyone is impressed with Harrelson's Xbox 360 skills. He and fellow receiver Wilson are good friends, but when NCAA Football '08 comes out, the wide receiver gloves come off.
"He'll disagree," Harrelson said, "but I'm better."
"No way," Wilson retorted. "I beat him 44-3 last time we played."
Jami Frankenberry, (757) 446-2295, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com
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