Earl was All Southern Conference his junior and senior year on the Medford football team, All Conference basketball, and won the State Track Title in the javelin, 3rd best in the USA, at 200 feet in 1946. He was selected “Athlete of Month” in November of 1946.

Earl was second string Quarterback to Norm VanBrocklin his sophomore year at the University of Oregon; nicknamed “Harry High School”, hung on him by Norm VanBrocklin. Most of his games his sophomore year he started as a defensive back. He was a starter at Quarterback his junior and senior years as well as defensive back, averaging 50 minutes a game. Earl was 3rd ranking passer in the Pacific Coast Conference and All Coast Conference as a defensive back both his junior and senior years. He was a member of the Oregon Cotton Bowl team in 1948 and received honorable mention All Ameri­can in 1949-1950. He still holds the single game completion record percentage­ wise at Oregon set in 1949; 10 for 1 pass completed, 170 yards – 3 T.Ds.

During the service, from 1951 to 1954, Earl played at the U.S. Naval Center, San Diego, California making the “All Navy – All Service” 2nd team in 1954, and “All-Eleventh Naval District” in 1952-1953 & 1954. In 1955 he played with the Los Angeles Rams.