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Philadelphia Eagles great Harold Carmichael is in: 3 Big reasons to love 17

By Geoffrey Knox

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 13: Director of player development Harold Carmichael of the Philadelphia Eagles watches warmups before play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers October 13, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Eagles won 31 - 20. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 13: Director of player development Harold Carmichael of the Philadelphia Eagles watches warmups before play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers October 13, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Eagles won 31 - 20. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
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CANTON, OH – AUGUST 4: A general exterior view of the Pro Football Hall of fame prior to the Class of 2012 Enshrinement Ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 4, 2012, in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CANTON, OH – AUGUST 4: A general exterior view of the Pro Football Hall of fame prior to the Class of 2012 Enshrinement Ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 4, 2012, in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

. . . That tall and slender frame. 1. player. 54

At six-foot-eight, it’s easy to look at Carmichael and wonder why he never thought about basketball as a professional career choice. Tall guys get a different type of attention. They can command a room just by entering. They have people looking up to them all of the time, both figuratively and literally. They speak. People listen.

Well, Eagles fans are definitely glad that ’17’ joined them and not the Philadelphia 76ers. Thank goodness that he didn’t play basketball as a pro. He did play a little roundball though, back when he attended Southern University many moons earlier as a tri-sport athlete.

Playing clarinet and quarterback at the prep level (yes, quarterback) while attending William M. Raines High School in Jacksonville, Florida helped him earn a name for himself and a scholarship.

While at Southern, he played center on the Jaguars’ men’s basketball team. He threw the javelin and discus as a member of the track and field team. As a standout on the football team where, believe it or not, he was a teammate of Mel Blount, he was a four-year starter. He received All-SWAC honors in 1970 as a senior.

He’s headed to Canton now, and we can’t wait to see them find a gold jacket that big. Check out this clip about the tallest receiver in NFL history, courtesy of NFL Films, when you have a minute.

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