Record-setting QB, three other Greyhounds suspended

Sophomore quarterback J.J. Harp’s assault on Eastern New Mexico University school passing records will have to be put on hold for at least a week.

Harp and three other Greyhounds have been suspended for what ENMU head coach Mark Ribaudo calls a “violation of team rules.”

Harp is a sophomore quarterback from Argyle, Texas, who leads Division II with 463 passing yards per game. He broke school records last weekend for career completions and single-season completions in a 34-24 loss to West Texas A&M. He set single-game school records for completions (64), attempts (94) and yards (695) in a 49-47 loss to Southeastern Oklahoma earlier this season.

Starting wide receiver Darian Dale and backup running backs Michael Henderson and Shonte Patterson were also suspended Monday by Ribaudo, who declined to comment on the specific reasons for the action.

Although a press release from the university calls the suspensions “indefinite,” Ribaudo said the length of time will probably be a week.

“At least this week,” Ribaudo said. “I’ve pretty much got it in my mind (for a week) and we’ll just see how the suspension goes — how he (Harp) and some other players handle it.”

Efforts to reach each of the players for comment weren't successful.

Through seven games, Harp has completed 293 of 481 passes for 3,245 yards and 22 touchdowns for the 2-5 Greyhounds. He’s on track to shatter Kevin Kott’s season passing record of 3,648 set in 1983.

Eastern hosts 13th-ranked Tarleton State on Saturday at Greyhound Stadium.

Wes Wood, a true freshman who led Muleshoe to the Class 2A state championship a year ago, will likely start at quarterback for the Greyhounds this weekend. Wood has played four games, but has only had 15 pass attempts in his backup role.

“These things happen. The people in those certain positions need to step up and do the job,” Ribaudo said. “They’ve been training just like everybody else from day one. It’s time for them to step up and help out the Greyhounds.”