A recurring series where we will profile every player on Maryland's roster, counting down to kick-off against William & Mary on September 1. Thanks to OBNUG for the idea.
Today we profile a walk-on offensive lineman.
Gary Harraka, Sophomore (RS), Offensive Guard, #69
via grfx.cstv.com
Stats:
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 300
Major: Environmental Science and Technology
Twitter: @gharraka
Collegiate Stats: N/A
High School Stats (Senior Year): N/A
Recruiting Ratings: N/A
High School: St. John's Catholic Prep
Hometown: Ijamsville, Md.
High School Highlights:
None we could find.
How'd He Get to College Park?
Gary Harraka played c
enter, guard, and defensive tackle for St. John’s, who play in the MIAA (along with Archbishop Curley, alma mater of starting free safety Eric Franklin, and Mount Saint Joseph, former home of Dino Gregory). He was the teammate of defensive end J.R. Ferguson then, one of the top players in Virginia who ended up going to LSU in the 2010 class.
Harraka also had this short-lived blog where he kept folks updated with his recruiting status. It looks like home school Maryland was the only FBS school to really recruit him (at least in 2008), but he had a bunch of FCS schools pursuing him, including Towson, Old Dominion, Lehigh and Georgetown
Harraka came to Maryland in 2010 and redshirted, and did not see any time on the field last year. He was named scout team offensive player of the week before the Florida State game, and has a spot on the depth chart this year as a reserve guard.
Nickname:
Gary "G.T." Harraka
Career Highlight:
Being named scout team offensive player of the week.
Career Lowlight:
N/A.
Dream Season:
Harraka gets some time off the bench as a reserve guard.
Nightmare Season:
Not even garbage time against William & Mary.
2012 Prospectus:
Gary Harraka is currently listed as the back-up to De'Onte Arnett at left guard, but it's unlikely that it stays that way. Pete White was not listed on the spring depth chart due to injury, and he's expected to take a starting spot. Harraka is listed in front of Stephen Grommer, interestingly enough, the only place on the Terps' spring depth chart where a walk-on is in front of a scholarship player.
At right guard, Josh Cary is listed as the starter with Nate Clarke as his back-up. Clarke has since moved to nose tackle, so Maryland's choice of back-up there will go a long way to determining how much Harraka gets to play this year. If they go with Grommer, Harraka is still likely behind two guys at left guard. If they go with Arnett, Harraka will likely be battling with Grommer for the primary back-up spot to White, at least on the depth chart.
In reality, Arnett will probably serve as the back-up for both left and right guard, limiting Harraka's opportunities to blowouts and injury needs. For walk-ons, it's hard to expect much more.
Up Next:
Our next player went to a high school that shares its name with a small college in New York whose head basketball coach played point guard at Monmouth.
After two in a row, Maryland1206 has now extended his lead to two points.
Standings:
Maryland1206 - 7
kbuts151 - 5
Terpsfinish - 1
ClickClack62 - 1
Mdak06 - 1
bubbasparks - 1
clevesanterp - 1
Everybody else - 0