PN-G’s Harmon headed to Lamar

[IndianFan]

Published February 17, 2010 09:52 pm -

PN-G’s Harmon headed to Lamar

By Cody Pastorella
The Port Arthur News

BEAUMONT – Port Neches-Groves High School's Caleb Harmon has had some senior year on and off the football field. The running back blasted defenses for 1,832 yards and 20 touchdowns on 298 carries last fall, pacing the PN-G to its first perfect regular season since 1977.

For churning out the program's second-most productive season in rushing yardage, Harmon was honored with a third-team Class 4A selection, became a Willie Ray Smith Awards finalist, won the Port Arthur News Super Team offensive player of the year award, and was placed on the Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold Team.

On Wednesday, Harmon added the final touch, announcing he has accepted a scholarship offer to play for Lamar University. He became the third running back to sign with the Cardinals this month.

"This means so much to me. I worked my butt off everyday last summer and during the year and it means a lot to have all the hard work pay off," said Harmon, who also stressed his appreciation to Walter Umphrey for helping him meet LU head coach Ray Woodard.

"Mr. Umphrey helped out with getting my transcripts and stuff into the right hands and getting coach Woodard to see me play and see my tapes. He set that all up."

Harmon added he had a short list of other schools interested in his services but Lamar was by far the best offer because of its proximity to his home, the quality of the university and because of the coaching staff.

"I'm very happy to sign with Lamar," he said. "I just want to earn my way. I expect to accomplish a lot of what we did this year at PN-G. I just want to be a good leader and do my part to to help the team. I want to push my teammates to be better and for them to push me. I want to make the coaches and team happy."

Woodard said he was excited to get the 5-10, 190 pound running back on board.

"He's a hard working kid who is very versatile and a guy who plays with a lot of intensity — I like that," explained Woodard, who has signed 18 others so far in this recruiting class. "Caleb's coming from a tradition-rich program that has a lot of success and we're hoping he carries that with him to our program."

The Lamar boss added that he intends for Harmon to make an impact right away, in one capacity or another.

"He's coming to us primarily as a running back. That's what we recruited him to do but he is an aggressive guy who knows what it takes to win and he's a great runner, so we're going to utilize him in whatever way will best help this team win games," Woodard said.

Averaging 6.1 yards per carry for his senior season, Harmon helped his Indians and first-year head coach Brandon Faircloth to the third round of the playoffs where PN-G was done in by the Brenham Cubs.

Faircloth said he could not be any happier for his workhorse.

"We're extremely excited for him and his family," Faircloth said. "He is a great example of hard work paying off. We are extremely excited he is getting the opportunity to play at the next level and to continue his career so close to home."

The Indian chief added his appreciation for Harmon's work ethic and example he set for future Indians.
 
"To have a guy who works as hard as him, plays as tough as he does, with that enthusiasm and with his leadership, he's going to bring a lot to Lamar's program and him going there does a lot for our program as well," Faircloth explained.

"He really set the bar high for future Indians and for the underclassmen around him. He showed them what it means to work hard and that hard work pays off."

Harmon, who recorded 694 yards and four touchdowns as a junior, becomes the third player from PN-G to sign with Lamar.. Last year, the Cardinals snatched up PN-G quarterback Harrison Tatum and Ryan McLin, who was a Port Arthur News Super Teamer offensive lineman in 2008.

http://www.panews.com/sports/local_story_048225319.html?keyword=topstory
Lamar site:
http://www.lamarcardinals.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021710aaa.html