Kelvin Harmon’s Legacy at NC State

Unfortunately, the days of watching Wide Receiver Kelvin Harmon in an NC State uniform have come to an end. Harmon announced on Monday that he would not be returning for his Senior season in Raleigh, would be declaring for the 2019 NFL Draft, and wouldn’t be playing in the Wolfpack’s Gator Bowl matchup against #19 Texas A&M on December 31st.

To be honest, there’s nothing shocking about this news. In a quick survey of three prominent mock drafts right now, he was a Top-10 pick in one, a later 1st rounder in another, and an early 2nd round pick in the other.

Even though Harmon only played 3 seasons at NC State, he’s one of best to ever play the wide receiver position in school history. The question is…how high do you rank him?

He finished his career ranked with the 4th most receptions, 3rd most receiving yards, and the 7th most touchdown receptions.

Career Receptions Leaders
1. Jaylen Samuels, 2014-2017 – 202
2. Jerricho Cotchery, 2000-03 – 200
3. Torry Holt, 1995-98 – 191
4. Kelvin Harmon, 2016-18 – 177
5. Eddie Goines, 1991-94 – 147

Career Receiving Yards Leaders
1. Torry Holt, 1995-98 – 3,379
2. Jerricho Cotchery, 2000-03 – 3,119
3. Kelvin Harmon, 2016-18 – 2,665
4. Owen Spencer, 2007-10 – 2,441
5. Eddie Goines, 1991-94 – 2,351

Career Touchdown Receptions
1. Torry Holt, 1995-98 -31
2. Jerricho Cotchery, 2000-03 – 21
3. Jarvis Williams, 2007-10 – 20
4. Jaylen Samuels, 2014-17 – 19
5. Eddie Goines, 1991-94 – 17
5. George Bryan, 2008-11 – 17
7. Kelvin Harmon, 2016-18 – 16

100-Yard Games
1. Jerricho Cotchery, 2000-03 – 15
2. Torry Holt, 1995-98 – 14
2. Koren Robinson, 1999-00 – 14
4. Kelvin Harmon, 2016-18 – 12
5. Eddie Goines, 1991-94 8

Harmon is the only player on the above lists that only played 3 seasons at NC State. To be clear, of Harmon would have returned for his Senior season, he would have shattered Torry Holt’s are we receiving yards record and Jaylen Samuels’ career receptions record.

If you were to judge these players by what their average season production was, he would top all of them in receiving yards and receptions per season.

Average Receiving Yards Per Season

Kelvin Harmon – 888 yards
Torry Holt – 845 yards

(Koren Robinson would take the cake for the highest average per season (957), but since he only played 2 seasons, he isn’t on the above list.)

Average Receptions Per Season

Kelvin Harmon – 59
Jaylen Samuels – 50.5

(Koren Robinson averaged 55 receptions per season at NC State.)

100-yard games per season

Koren Robinson – 7
Kelvin Harmon – 4

Harmon’s Junior campaign was one of the best single-seasons in school history, ranking 4th in receptions (81) and 4th in receiving yards.

Most Receptions in a Season
1. Jakobi Meyers, 2018 – 89
2. Torry Holt, 1998 – 88
3. Jerricho Cotchery, 2003 – 86
4. Kelvin Harmon, 2018 – 81
5. Jaylen Samuels, 2017 – 76
6. Kelvin Harmon, 2017 – 69
6. Tramain Hall, 2003 – 69

Most Receiving Yards in a Season

1. Torry Holt, 1998 – 1,604
2. Jerricho Cotchery, 2003 – 1,369
3. Jerricho Cotchery, 2002 – 1,192
4. Kelvin Harmon, 2016-18 – 1,186
4. Torry Holt, 1997 – 1,099
5. Koren Robinson, 2000 – 1,061
6. Jakobi Meyers, 2018 – 1,024
7. Kelvin Harmon, 2017 – 1,017

If you break it down by season, Harmon was one of the best to play the position as a Freshman, Sophomore and Junior. His 462 receiving yards as a Freshman ranks 3rd in school history for a frosh. His 69 receptions as a Sophomore are tied for the most ever, and his 1,017 receiving yards rank second. Harmon’s 81 receptions is the 2nd most by a Junior (behind teammate Jakobi Meyers), and his 1,186 rank 2nd as well.

As you can below, NC State has had a legacy of 1st Team All-ACC, but it had been 14 years since Jerricho Cotchery made the team in 2003. That’s the longest drought in school history.

NC State 1st Team All-ACC Wide Receivers

2018 – Kelvin Harmon
2018 – Jakobi Meyers
2003 – Jerricho Cotchery
2002 – Jerricho Cotchery
1999 – Koren Robinson
1998 – Torry Holt
1997 – Torry Holt
1994 – Eddie Goines
1993 – Eddie Goines
1991 – Charles Davenport
1988 – Nasrallah Worthen
1986 – Nasrallah Worthen
1975 – Don Buckey
1972 – Pat Kenney
1967 – Harry Martell
1966 – Gary Rowe

Harmon is one of the Top-4 wide receivers in NC State history. That’s not even debatable in my mind.

Personally, I think Holt is still the G.O.A.T. Even though Harmon averaged more receiving yards and receptions per season, Holt dominated him in touchdowns (31). Also, Harmon never had a season like Holt’s Senior season (1,604 receiving yards & 16 touchdowns.

If you’re looking at accolades, Holt was a consensus 1st Team All-American in 1998 and Robinson was a 2nd Team All-American 2000 (I know all of the All-American Teams haven’t been announced for 2018). Cotchery was a 2-time 1st Team All-ACC honoree (as was Holt).

With all that being said, I reserve the top spot for Holt, but a legitimate conversation can be had for Harmon to be #2, 3, or #4.

Wolfpack fans, consider yourself privileged. You had the chance to watch one of the greatest of all-time in school history the past three years in Kelvin Harmon.