What's happened to Brigham Harwell?

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It's not just about blowing games for Karl Dorrell, it's about blowing careers, too.

I'm not a football coach, but you don't have to be to tell that Brigham Harwell is playing out of position at UCLA. Harwell's senior year at Los Altos was my first year on the beat. I only got to physically cover his games twice and I got to interview him multiple times for his Player of the Year and Signing Day articles. Harwell told me before he told anyone that he was going to UCLA. Fox Sports Net showed up at 8 a.m. at Los Altos to get footage of Harwell deciding between UCLA and Arizona State on the morning of Signing Day. But, Harwell had told me before any media outlet that he was going to UCLA. It was in that morning's paper hours before he decided to let LA's mainstream media know.

That's the best scoop I've ever had. He did it because the Tribune had given him great coverage and he was thankful. Also because coach Greg Gano is a class act. FSN wasn't happy about the leak, but who cares? I liked Harwell, just like anybody who meets him does. He remains the best, most dominant defensive player I've ever seen in high school. For those reasons, and because I have a signed UCLA helmet from him as a token of appreciation, I am a huge fan of his. These days, however, I am a disgusted fan of his.

Harwell left high school as one of top prospects in the nation. The SGV has had big time recruits before, but nothing recently like Harwell. He was Top 20 in the country on most lists. He was the gem of UCLA's recruiting class and a player unlike anything Dorrell often gets. Harwell was deciding between UCLA and ASU at a time when former Sun Devils defensive end Terrell Suggs was still fresh in the minds of PAC-10 fans. He's now a Baltimore Raven. I was excited at the prospect of seeing Harwell play in my local media market. I was excited, just like any prep sports writer, to say "I covered that guy." I've heard past Trib guys talk about covering Lawrence Phillips, Daylon McCutcheon, Jason David and so on. Harwell was going to be my guy.

Then, he arrived at UCLA. Then he got moved inside for some stupid reason. A finesse, pass rushing defensive end that dubbed himself (and I wrote it) "The Sackmaster" was moved inside. Not only is Harwell not big enough to play inside, his remarkable speed isn't best utilized inside. Most schools prefer 320-pounders plugging up the middle. UCLA prefers a 275-pounder, who had to gain weight to get there, not lose it (as most interior linemen do).

Harwell has had his moments at UCLA, but it hasn't been what it should've been. He hasn't turned into the next Dwight Freeney or Terrell Suggs. Instead, he's suffered through some injuries, some of which might be because he's out of position. He's suffered through playing a position that he splits time at. He's suffered through Dorrell and staff making it so that one of the country's former top recruits hasn't matriculated into being the dominant force he could've been.

In a QB-happy conference like the PAC-1O, wouldn't a speed rusher off of the edge be ideal for a defense? I wonder what might have happened to Harwell had he chosen ASU. Maybe they would've never tinkered with his position. Maybe he'd be considering leaving early after this season. Maybe he'd be the next Terrell Suggs.

Makes me sick!


31 Comments

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A local fan said:

B. Harwell was a superior hs football player. I watched him run in the 100m at league finals his freshman year. He was so strong and so fast for a big guy. But college has a way of equalizing an athlete. He would be coming off the edge at UCLA if he was as good as the guys they got starting right now. He was a bit one dimensional. His power and speed in HS couldn't be matched. However, in the Rose Bowl it can. They moved him to the inside because he lacks agility. He is expolosive and quick but has trouble with movement in space. In a straight line he can beat anybody to the point of attack, but in college he can't bull rush the offensive tackles like in HS(because of his lack of size) so they moved him inside.

When they moved him inside he gained weight and lost quickness. So now he is undersized and lacks true power. He's an adequete DT in the pac-10 and there is something to be said for that but he's not the player that owned the D6 championship game vs orange luth.

Juan Martinez said:

Brigham is a very GREAT football player and an even better person. He is also one of my best friends. I have known Brigham since my freshman year in highschool. He was never a cocky man. He was always friendly to everyone. That is how i started to know him. Brigham is a great football player and he is doing just fine in the inside. He just had to get comfortable with the position. He had been playing DE for his whole career and to make a change like that is not easy. Brigham is now stronger than ever and will be making a huge impact next year in the Pac-10 and even the nation. He deserves a great season.

Paul said:

Harwell did great this month agianst USC. I hope every one watch the tape and see a true STAR. Harwell is a NFL player in the begining. I have been following Harwell since he took shawn cody 84# in high school and the tradition lives on..... HARWELL WILL BE better than shawn cody you can belive that and take that to the bank.

Paul LosAngeles,

dustn said:

Aaron Harris is going to end up at uDub.

anti17 said:

I think it was all said best by Orange Lutheran QB Seth Blackamore after Lost Altos'21-17 victory in the Div. VI title game in 2003. The QB was actually knocked out of the game early by a crushing, very legal, blindside hit by Harwell. In an inrerview after the game with the OC register, he said, "The difference in a very tight game, was they had # 84 and we didnt, he was a man, playing amongst boys"....
No one could have said it better, this coming from a very class program, who is now one of the OC's elite.

AHS said:

Brigham was one of the most dominate defensive players I have ever seen at the HS level. I see him as a Jason taylor type player in the NFL. It goes to show how important that college choice is for blue chip caliber players like BH. I wish the kid luck

CONQS FAN said:

i am in the same boat as u ARAM....brigham harwell was an absolute beat of a defensive end, and there is not doubt in my mind that his high school success at that position would of carried over to the college ranks....i am in total argreement that UCLA did hurt his career by moving him inside.....but hey what an u do?......just keep playin ball

Aram said:

I don't buy for a second that Harwell wouldn't be doing better than Hickman or Davis at DE. From what I recall, he wasn't happy about being put inside but they did it two seasons ago when every down lineman in the two deep was seemingly hurt. He's a speed rushing defensive end, period end of story! This guy would be breathing down the QB's neck on every play had he been in his proper position. The best part about Harwell was always his uncanny speed and quickness for his size. That's his best dynamic. How does it possibly get best used while playing inside?

Damien Dad said:

Harwell fan.

Anyone who knows the "Harwell" story knows that the "Harwells" deserve every accolade and acknowledgement they get. I used to practice with my sons and newphews at Andrews Middle School in Whittier and came to know Brighham's kid brother Brent Harwell (Chino Hills High School).

Brent was a very nice and respectful young man. He never mentioned or bragged about his older brother. But everyone knew Brigham was being pursued by all the Div I schools. Later on I meet his "grandmother" and asked if it was okay if Brent came with us to practice and if we could call on him from time to time. Never knew Brent was in foster care until he moved away to Chino Hills.

I remember asking Brent for a CD of Brigham and after watching Brigham man-child the competition I was even more impressed by my newphew's comments that he was a better person than he was a football player! That coming from a 9th grader is even more remarkable!

I always saw Brigham Harwell as a Teddy Brushki type player from the Patriots. Wasn't Teddy a down lineman in college? I think he will play on Sundays as a LB rather than at DL because he's a baller, smart, unselfish and has a tremendous work ethic. If good things happen to great people then Brigham Harwell will be fine. More stories like Brigham's need to be spotlighted in this jaded world of sports.

We all miss Brent Harwell and hope he's doing well at Chino Hills.

Aram said:

Harris is leaning toward Washington. That's the latest I've heard.

Conqs fan,

You're right. Harwell is a great role model and was a very humble player. Also dominant.

CONQS FAN said:

the timing of this topic couldnt have been better, Brigam harwell isnt only a great football player but one of the most humble kids that i have ever came incontact with. i have been a fan of LA for a while now and i have seen the teams since the run of dominance began in 1999. i have seen the Cody teams and the Harwell teams and at the high school level there was no player more exciting to watch then Brigham....whether he was making a tackle 20yds down the field or punching the ball in from the 2 this kid was something else....amidst all the hype that surrounded this kid whether it was playingin the shadow of Mr. Cody or all the hoopla surrounding his choice of college...this kid still found time to "be a kid".....while im not going to get into details about his humble upbringing this kid has earned every single that he has ever gotten...
i mean this guy is a great role model to those kids that are still playing at LA.....he rountinely shows up during the summer and works out in the weigt room and shows kids that hard work does pay off....there have been quite a few kids that have gone on the play college ball from LA but not many some back and lft weights WITH THE CURRENT PLAYERS..

brigham will be just fine on the inside of the line at UCLA because of the fact that he is a FOOTBALL PLAYER....to my understanding the coaches at UCLA asked him to make the move from end to DT and unlike some kids at USC who were asked to move to fullback Brigham moved without hesitation....this a man of faith and knows that everything happens for a reason......he will be just fine as will UCLA.....

by the way BRIGHAM is coming off the 2 best games og his career.....he will be fine , he starting to look a lot more confident out there and getting more comfortable in his new position....

MATMTWTBAG said:

He should have chosen a different college. I am sure there was no gurantee on his position before signing with UCLA. He should have made that one of his demands before signing that he is to play DE. I think he would have been better suited and got to play DE if he would have went to ASU. His showcasing to the NFL would have been better. Any word on where Harris from BP is going?

huh? said:

I am as big a UCLA fan as you'll find...I've seen him do well,at times.He is a solid player but can you really blame UCLA?We do have one of the best pass rushing ends in the game in Justin Hickman....I know Harwell is extremely talented but I'd much rather have Hickman coming off the edge then Harwell.Also, at the opther end we have Bruce Davis who is having a great season as well....Can you blame UCLA for having too much talent?I love Harwell and I think that he deserves playing time..They have one of the best D-Lines around....Davis,Brown,Harwell,Hickman...How can you complain with that line?

Betty B said:

wow

I hope he gets the chance he deserves. What does he say about all this?

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Fred Robledo

Fred Robledo is the Prep Sports Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. E-mail me your opinions, story ideas or tips to fred.robledo@sgvn.com.

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