Thompson (Alabama) QB Conner Harrell named High School Football America Player of the Year

Photo from Thompson Athletics
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After leading Thompson to back-to-back Alabama 7A state championships, Conner Harrell is the 2021 High School Football America National Player of the Year.

Harrell, who is already enrolled at the University of North Carolina, finished his career completing 385-of-537 passes (71.7%) for 6,478 yards with 84 touchdowns against with only six interceptions. He also ran for rushed for 701 yards (6.3 yards per carry with 10 TDs.

Harrell chose the Tar Heels over Michigan and Northwestern.

The 3-star college football prospect also excelled in the classroom. Last year, Harrell was named to the High School Football Academic All-America Team.

Last season, Thompson finished No. 14 in the High School Football America 100 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football. After the 2020 state championship, the Warriors finished No. 2 in our Top 100.

Below, you can listen to Thompson head coach Mark Freeman talk with High School Football America’s Jeff Fisher about Harrell.

High School Football America Podcast

 

Harrell is the third straight Thompson quarterback to head to a Power 5 school after graduation. Taulia Tagovailoa signed with Alabama before later transferring to Maryland. Sawyer Pate was a preferred walk-on at Auburn. 

This is the tenth straight year that High School Football America has named a National Player of the Year. Three of those players — Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans), Leonard Fournette (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals) — are currently in the National Football League.

Past High School Football America Players of the Year

2020 – Kyle McCord, QB – St. Joseph’s Prep, Pennsylvania

2019 – Julian Fleming, WR – Southern Columbia HS, Pennsylvania

2018 – Bo Nix, QB – Pinson Valley HS, Alabama

2017 – JT Daniels, QB – Mater Dei HS, California

2016 – Tate Martell, QB – Bishop Gorman HS, Nevada

2015 – Sean McGrew, RB – St John Bosco HS, California

2014 – Kyler Murray, QB – Allen HS, Texas

2013 – Leonard Fournette, RB – St. Augustine HS, Louisiana

2012 – Derrick Henry, RB – Yulee HS, Florida

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.