Offensive specialist Damian Harrell has gone about his job for the Colorado Crush better than any player at his position.
Harrell, who plays possibly the highest profile position in the game, was named to the Arena Football League all-Arena team Wednesday.
“Most teams in this league go only as far as their quarterback and offensive specialist will take them,” Harrell said after practice at the Pepsi Center. “I feel as if I have had better seasons, but it’s the players around me this year that have made me stand out a little bit more.”
Harrell was selected for the first time in his seven years in the league and is the first Crush player selected to the first team. Crush kicker Clay Rush and fullback/linebacker Rich Young were named to the second team.
“I’ll take the award, but I still feel like the most important thing for us is to get to Las Vegas,” Harrell said, referring to the ArenaBowl on June 12. “The team and the coaching staff helped me get over the hump this year. Any one of the others – Willis Marshall, Kevin Mc- Kenzie, Andy McCullough – could be the offensive specialist.”
The march to the ArenaBowl starts against San Jose at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Pepsi Center.
During the regular season, Harrell extended his league record of consecutive games with a touchdown catch to 49. He caught 122 passes for 1,492 yards and 41 touchdowns in 16 games.
“When I think of an offensive specialist, I think of a player who has to be a dominant player and a go-to type of receiver,” Crush coach Mike Dailey said. “I don’t think there is any question that he’s the best player in the league at his position.”
Dailey and his staff put together a highlight film that included a clip of almost everyone on the team. Harrell’s was a one-handed, third-down catch against Nashville two weeks ago that kept a drive going in a 52-49 victory at the Pepsi Center.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
