WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 11, 2022) - Howard University is proud to announce that Gary "Flea" Harrell, former HU football player and coach, will be inducted into the 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame on March 9, 2023.

"This is truly an honor for me to represent Howard University and my teammates in this prestigious honor," says Harrell. "I owe a lot of this to Coach Steve Wilson, who not only recruited me but helped me all along the way. He personified what a Howard man is all about and I followed that example to this day.  This brings closure to this journey."

Harrell's teammate and roommate, former Howard quarterback Jay "Sky" Walker offers his perspective.

"I like to call it overdue," says Walker, who is a broadcaster for ESPN. "It is fitting that he is being recognized for his contributions to both Howard University and the MEAC. He is truly deserving."

Harrell joins both Wilson and Walker in the MEAC Hall of Fame. 

Incidentally, he will receive yet another honor in February 2023 when he will be inducted into the Northwestern (Miami) High School Hall of Fame for his contributions there.

Harrell has made a significant impact on Howard University and the MEAC as both a player and a coach. The Miami, FL native was a four-year letter winner as a wide receiver and punt return specialist. He started every game for Howard's undefeated 1993 team and was a member of the MEAC Championship team and Black National championship team that same season. 

He holds the Howard record for most receptions in a game (13) and in a career (184). He ranks eighth in the MEAC in total receiving yards (2,639) in a career, ninth in career receptions (184 receptions), fifth in total receptions (72) in a season, tied for fourth in total TDs in a game (4) and tied for fifth in total receptions in a game (13). 

Harrell was inducted into the Howard University Hall of Fame in November 2005, and received a proclamation from the City of Miami, declaring it Gary "Flea" Harrell Day on November 4, 2005. Prior to attending Howard, he was a varsity athlete for Miami's Northwestern High School.

"When I came to Howard in 1992, Flea was a junior," recalls Pep Hamilton, now offensive coordinator with the Houston Texans. "He was a leader on-and-off the field and was the person all the young players looked up to. He did everything right. He graduated from the School of Business in four years and set positive examples for us. It is no surprise that he is receiving this honor."

Harrell got his start in coaching at his alma mater as wide receivers coach from 2002-04. He would go on to have stops at Bowie State University for two years as offensive coordinator, as running backs coach at Morgan State University from 2008-09, as offensive coordinator at Florida A&M University, wide receivers coach at Texas Southern University, wide receivers coach at Florida Atlantic University and as wide receivers coach at Alabama State University for one season before accepting his current position as wide receivers coach at Jackson State University where he has served since 2020.
 
Prior to his stint at Florida Atlantic, his alma matter came knocking on his door and asked the Miami native to return to the program, but this time as the head coach in 2011. All told, Harrell served as Howard University's head coach for five seasons. 

In 2012 he was honored by the D.C. Touchdown Club as the Local College Coach of the Year at its inaugural awards dinner. During his time at Howard, he finished with a 20-36 overall record including a 7-4 mark in 2012. 

Harrell, affectionately known as "The Flea," played two NFL seasons, seeing action in four games in 1994 and 1995 with the New York Giants. He also played one season (March-June 1996) for the World League's Frankfurt Galaxy and two seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes (1996-97). Harrell earned his degree in Marketing from Howard in 1994. He and his wife Tenika have two children, a daughter – Jasmine – and son – Gary, Jr.