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Harvey Makes It Happen

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By JENNA MARINA

Tribune correspondent

Published: April 25, 2008

Updated: 04/25/2008 12:12 am

GAINESVILLE - Six years ago, Derrick Harvey was a 6-foot-2, 185-pound reserve for his high school basketball team.

Come Saturday, two inches taller and nearly 100 pounds heavier, the University of Florida defensive end likely will hear his name called during the first round of the NFL draft.

It might seem improbable, but Harvey has never been one for odds. Fostered by a supporting cast of his family and high school coach, Harvey has been able to achieve his dreams.

His determination can be traced to high school when, before the first practice of his senior year, he approached Coach Rick Houchens with a promise: He was going to break the state sack record of 25.

"He had this little smile," Houchens said. "I looked at him and said, 'Yeah, OK Derrick, get out of here. Go to practice.' But he was still standing there with this serious look on his face."

With only one season of competitive football under his belt, Harvey notched five sacks in the first game and finished the season with a state-record 31.

"The thing I love and respect about him the most, besides his character, is whatever you put in front of him, he's going to do everything in his power to make it happen," Houchens said. "That's more than you can ever ask for."

Harvey's devotion to his craft is a trait he learned from his family.

"Just knowing I have the support at home and my whole family behind me," Harvey said, "I'm trying to do good for them and do good for myself."

He was only 17 when his parents dropped him off at UF's campus in June 2004. It didn't take long for homesickness to settle in, so his parents made a pact never to miss one of his games.

They left between 11 p.m. and midnight every Friday for the 780-mile road trip from Greenbelt, Md.

His mother and stepfather took turns driving through the night until they reached Gainesville early Saturday morning, making it to The Swamp still sleep deprived.

Florida coach Urban Meyer made it a priority to point this out to NFL scouts when they ask about Harvey.

"They put 40,000 miles on their car in a year and a half, and that just tells you the commitment level and the kind of family he's from," Meyer said at Florida's Pro Day last month. "When you start investing in your employees, that's very important."

After capping his sophomore season with a defensive MVP performance in the national title game - three sacks and one fumble recovery - Harvey could have followed 17 of his teammates to the NFL draft. Instead, he decided to work on his fundamentals, strength and size for another year.

At 6-4 and 271 pounds, he impressed at the NFL Combine by clocking 4.85 seconds in the 40-yard dash and bench-pressing 225 pounds 31 times.

He has spent the past few weeks visiting different franchises. Houchens said Harvey has liked the Bucs, Jets and Lions, though he would be happy to go to work anywhere.

"I'm hearing top 15," Harvey said at Pro Day. "But I'm just trying to get picked up."

True to his laid-back nature, Harvey isn't throwing an elaborate draft-day party or celebrating in New York. Instead, he plans to munch on some barbecue with his family, Houchens and his agent in front of the television.

"It couldn't have happened to a better person," Houchens said.

"For him and his family, it's well-deserved."

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