Alvin Harper
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | July 6, 1967 Lake Wales, Florida,U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Frostproof(Frostproof, Florida) | ||||||||
| College: | Tennessee | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1991/ round: 1 / pick: 12 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats atPFR | |||||||||
Alvin Craig Harper(born July 6, 1967) is an American former professionalfootballplayer who was awide receiverin theNational Football League(NFL) for theDallas Cowboys,Tampa Bay Buccaneers,Washington RedskinsandNew Orleans Saints.He playedcollege footballfor theTennessee Volunteers.Harper was selected by theDallas Cowboysin the first round of the1991 NFL draft.He played in Dallas for four years as the Cowboys wonSuper Bowl XXVIIandSuper Bowl XXVIII,both against theBuffalo Bills.
Early life
[edit]Harper attendedFrostproof High School,where he was an outstandingfootballplayer, earningUSA Todayhigh schoolAll-Americanhonors as a senior in 1986.
He also excelled intrack and field,where he at one time held the Florida High Schoolhigh jumprecord and won two state Class Ahigh jumpingtitles, as well asbasketballwhere he averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game.
College career
[edit]Harper accepted a football scholarship from theUniversity of Tennessee.As a freshman, he appeared in 12 games as a backupwide receiver,making 15 receptions for 247 yards and one touchdown. He had a 45-yard touchdown reception in the second game againstColorado State University.
As a sophomore, he was named a starter atwide receiver.He appeared in 11 games, posting 37 receptions for 487 yards and 5 touchdowns. In his first start in the fifth game againstWashington State University,he set a school single-game record with 12 receptions.
As a junior, he appeared in 11 games, tallying 13 receptions for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns.
As a senior, he earned All-Southeastern ConferenceFreshman First-team honors in 1987, and All-Southeastern Conference first-team honors in 1990. He was also the MVP of the 1991Hula Bowl,and finished hisNCAA footballcareer with 103 receptions for 1,547 yards and 16touchdowns.
He continued to excel in track and field, capturing the 1989 Southeastern Conference indoor high jump championship with a jump of 7 ft 2½in. He also anchored the University of Tennessee4x100and4x400metres relays.
Professional career
[edit]Dallas Cowboys
[edit]Harper was selected by theDallas Cowboysin the first round (12th overall) of the1991 NFL draft,in order to find a receiving partner for starterMichael Irvin.[1][2]As a rookie, he caught 20 passes for 326 yards and onetouchdown,helping Dallas finish 11–5, its first winning season since1985.He missed the seventh game against theCincinnati Bengalswith a neck injury.
In1992,he rushed once for 15 yards and caught 35 passes for 562 yards and fourtouchdowns.He probably had the signature play of his career during theNFC Championshipagainst theSan Francisco 49ers,catching aslant routefor 70 yards, setting up the Cowboys on the 10-yard line and sealing the win. He also caught a 45-yardtouchdownfromquarterbackTroy Aikmanduring the 52–17 victory over theBuffalo BillsinSuper Bowl XXVII,after which he dunked the ball over the goal post crossbar.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
[edit]On March 8,1995,Harper signed a lucrativefree agentcontract with theTampa Bay Buccaneersbased on his big play ability and championship experience.[3]Though he had a career-high 46 receptions for 633 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first season in Tampa, he was not able to live up to his free agent billing. He missed the first 3 games of the season because of a left sprained medial collateral ligament and a sprained left ankle he suffered in the first preseason game against theNew York Jets.[4]He clinched a 14–6 win in the fourth game against theWashington Redskinswith a touchdown reception in the final 6 minutes. His best game came against theCincinnati Bengalswith 6 receptions for 117 yards and no touchdowns.
In1996,he appeared in 12 games with 7 starts, registering 19 receptions for 289 yards and one touchdown. His top receiving game came in the third game against theDenver Broncos,making 2 receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown. He had 4 receptions for 41 yards and no touchdowns in the fifth game against theDetroit Lions.Harper was replaced withRobb Thomasin the second half of the sixth game against theMinnesota Vikingsand would lose his job as the starter atwide receiver.[5]He would start once more in the season finale against theChicago Bears,in place of an injured Thomas.[6]
On June 10,1997,he was released before the start of the season.[7]During his two years in Tampa he was slowed by injuries and played in only 25 games, where he caught 65 passes for 922 yards and three touchdowns.
Washington Redskins
[edit]On June 11,1997,theWashington Redskinssigned him, gambling that he could flourish again after being reunited with head coachNorv Turner.[8]Harper was a reserve player in 12 games, in which he caught only 2 receptions for 65 yards in the fourth game against theJacksonville Jaguars.On December 1, he was released after he complained about his playing time, following the Redskins 23–20 loss to theSt. Louis Rams.[9]
New Orleans Saints
[edit]On December 2,1997,he was claimed off waiver by theNew Orleans Saints.[10]He was declared inactive in the last 3 games of the season. He was released on July 24,1998.[11]
Dallas Cowboys
[edit]On October 14,1999,he was signed by theDallas Cowboys,to provide depth afterMichael Irvinsuffered a career-ending neck injury in the fourth game against thePhiladelphia Eagles.[12]His jersey number 80 was used byErnie Mills,so he chose to wear number 82. He appeared in 2 games as a reserve player and did not register any statistics. He was released on December 7.[13]
Harper finished his eight NFL seasons with 191 receptions for 3,473 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed once for 15 yards, completed a pass for 46 yards, and recorded oneinterceptionon defense.
Memphis Maniax (XFL)
[edit]In2001,he was signed by theMemphis Maniaxof theXFL,reuniting with head coachKippy Brown,who was his wide receivers coach with theUniversity of Tennessee.Harper was a backup wide receiver and only posted one reception for 8 yards.[14]
NFL statistics
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS | GP | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | Fum | Lost | ||
| 1991 | DAL | 15 | 5 | 20 | 326 | 16.3 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | DAL | 16 | 13 | 35 | 562 | 16.1 | 52 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | DAL | 16 | 15 | 36 | 777 | 21.6 | 80 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | DAL | 16 | 14 | 33 | 821 | 24.9 | 90 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 1995 | TB | 13 | 12 | 46 | 633 | 13.8 | 49 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | TB | 12 | 7 | 19 | 289 | 15.2 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 | WSH | 12 | 0 | 2 | 65 | 32.5 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | DAL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 100 | 66 | 191 | 3,473 | 18.2 | 90 | 21 | 5 | 5 | |
Personal life
[edit]In 2004, he was a volunteer wide receivers coach atHoward University.In 2005, he served anNFLcoaching internship as theRhein Firewide receivers assistant coach inNFL Europe.
Harper now resides inWinter Haven, Florida.[15]
References
[edit]- ^"1991 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedMay 7,2023.
- ^"Cowboys' 1991 draft earns high marks".April 9, 2014.RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^Smith, Timothy W. (March 9, 1995)."Bucs Beat Out the Jets In Bidding for Harper".The New York Times.RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Harper injured".RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Harper in a snit as he sits".RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Harper makes his return quietly".RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Buccaneers Cut Ties With Harper".The New York Times.June 11, 1997.RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Harper Signs With Redskins".The Washington Post.RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Ouspoken Harper Released By Redskins".The Washington Post.RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Former RAM Mrtin Fills In As No. 3 For The Final Three".The Washington Post.RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Transactions".RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Injury-riddled Cowboys sign Harper".RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Transactions".RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"Memphis Maniax bio".RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^"'A bigger heart': Frostproof's Alvin Harper talks about life before and after the NFL ".
- 1967 births
- Living people
- American football wide receivers
- Dallas Cowboys players
- Memphis Maniax players
- New Orleans Saints players
- People from Lake Wales, Florida
- Rhein Fire coaches
- Players of American football from Polk County, Florida
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
- Tennessee Volunteers football players
- Washington Redskins players