Alan Harper (American football) facts for kids
| No. 98 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive tackle |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 6, 1979 Fontana, California, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 285 lb (129 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Fontana |
| College: | Fresno State |
| NFL Draft: | 2002 / Round: 4 / Pick: 121 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
| Player stats at PFR | |
| Player stats at ArenaFan.com | |
Alan Stephen Harper, born on September 6, 1979, is a former American football player. He played as a defensive tackle. Harper was part of the New York Jets in the National Football League (NFL) for one season. Before that, he played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Jets chose him in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft.
Early Life and High School Football
Alan Harper grew up in Fontana, California. He played high school football at Fontana High School. He graduated from there in 1997. In his senior year, 1996, he was named first-team All-Citrus Belt League. He also earned All-Inland Valley honors.
During the 1996 season, his team had a great record of 11 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. Harper made 63 tackles by himself and helped with 24 other tackles. He also had eight sacks and blocked three passes. Before Fontana High, he attended A. B. Miller High School in Fontana for two years. There, he received All-San Andreas League awards twice.
College Football Career
Harper played for the Fresno State Bulldogs from 1998 to 2001. He did not play in the 1997 season. This was because he was working on his school grades. He was named first-team All-WAC three times. These honors came in 1999, 2000, and 2001.
In 1999, Fresno State nominated him for the WAC Defensive Player of the Year award. He then won this award in 2001. In his final college season in 2001, The Sporting News named him a second-team All-American. This means he was one of the best college players in the country.
Professional Football Journey
The New York Jets picked Alan Harper in the 2002 NFL draft. He was the 121st player chosen overall. He signed with the Jets on July 24, 2002. The Jets released him on October 15, 2003. However, they signed him to their practice squad the very next day.
He was moved to the main team roster on December 17, 2003. On February 9, 2004, Harper was sent to NFL Europe. There, he played for the Scottish Claymores. He played so well that he was named to the All-NFL Europe Team for the 2004 season.
The Jets released him again on September 5, 2004. But they signed him back to their practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 27, 2004. During the 2004 season, he played in eleven games for the Jets. The Jets released him for the last time on August 31, 2005.
After his time in the NFL, Harper joined the San Jose SaberCats. This team is part of the Arena Football League (AFL). He signed with them on December 19, 2005. He played for the SaberCats from 2006 to 2008. Later, he signed with the Arizona Rattlers of the AFL on June 30, 2010. He played for them during the 2010 season.
