Graham Harrell & Rex Burkhead: DFW High School Football Legends Look Back

Two of the most decorated players in Dallas-Fort Worth high school football history share a common thread: both left their marks long before they ever played a college or professional snap.

Graham Harrell's time at Ennis rewrote the record books. The Lions quarterback threw for 12,532 yards and 167 touchdowns during his high school career, capping it with a 2001 state championship. Harrell went on to throw for over 15,000 yards at Texas Tech and has spent years as a college offensive coordinator, currently serving as associate head coach at Abilene Christian. He credits lessons from his father, legendary coach Sam Harrell, as a foundation he still draws from today.

Rex Burkhead's 2008 senior season at Plano earned him the nickname Superman. He rushed for nearly 1,800 yards and 23 touchdowns, showcasing the elusiveness that would later carry him to a 10-year NFL career and a Super Bowl championship with the New England Patriots in 2018. Burkhead retired from professional football in 2024.

Despite everything that followed their high school days, both players look back on their time in Texas prep football with genuine fondness. Harrell and Burkhead revisit their favorite plays and games from careers that helped define DFW high school football in the early 2000s.