| No Holding Harper |
Senior defensive tackle Alan Harper (www.gobulldogs.com/alanharper), a second-team All-America pick by Football News and the WAC Defensive Player of the Year, was on both the Lombardi Awards and Outland Trophy watch this season. He has proved to be one of America’s premier defensive linemen. This year, he leads the WAC in quarterback sacks with 12 for -79 yards and tackles for losses with 21 for -104 yards. Harper now has 21 quarterbacks sacks in his career, an amazing feat for a player who is double-teamed nearly every play. Harper has climbed into NFL draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr.’s Big Board and is currently rated the No. 23 prospect for the 2002 NFL draft. Harper has been one of the most dominating defensive players in the WAC the last three seasons, earning first-team All-WAC honors each year. Harper has the potential to become the best defensive lineman in school history. Harper was selected by the media as the 2001 Preseason WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Harper has been awarded a Bulldog blackshirt in 24 of the last 25 games. A blackshirt is awarded by the FS defensive coaches for totally dominating a position in the previous game.
Alan Harper 2001 Career WAC Rank NCAA Rank
Tackles for Losses 21-104 54-219 1st 10th
Quarterback Sacks 12-79 22-132 1st 10th
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| Harper's Highlights |
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All-WAC defensive tackle Alan Harper has at least one tackle in 43 straight games, the longest streak on the Fresno State defense.
Is No. 23 on "Mel's Big Board," on which NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr., rated the top senior prospects in the nation.
Harper ranks first in the Western Athletic Conference in tackles for loss (21) and in sacks (12).
As of Nov. 15, was 10th in the nation in sacks per game and tackles for loss.
Voted WAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Has been a blackshirt recipient 24 of the last 25 games, the most out of any Bulldog. He's a perfect 13-for-13 this year in receiving blackshirts.
A three-time first-team All-WAC recipient.
Is on track to graduate in May with a degree in sociology.
Through 13 games in 2001, he has racked up 12 sacks (for -79 yards), 21 tackles for loss (-104 yards), 16 quarterback hurries, two pass deflections, one recovered fumble and one forced fumble.
Has been a vital cog in Fresno State holding its opponents in the last five games to only 21 second half points.
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Harpers Career Stats
| Year | G-GS | Solo | Asst. | Total | TL-Yds. | Sacks-Yds. |
| 2001 | 13-13 | 36 | 18 | 54 | 21-104 | 12-79 |
| 2000 | 12-11 | 31 | 25 | 56 | 16-61 | 3-23 |
| 1999 | 13-13 | 39 | 41 | 80 | 15-47 | 6-24 |
| 1998 | 11-7 | 18 | 21 | 39 | 2-7 | 1-6 |
| TOTALS | 49-44 | 124 | 105 | 229 | 54-219 | 22-132 |
| Year | FC | PBU | FR | Int-Yds. |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0-0 |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1999 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0-0 |
| TOTALS | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0-0 |
| Harping On Harper |
"Alan Harper is a great football player. He is strong and physical. Their defensive line was the best we faced last year and Alan was certainly the leader of that line,"
–- Alabama Head Coach Dennis Franchione
"Alan Harper was one of the top defensive players we faced last year. We had to prepare a game plan specifically for him because of his physical abilities. We had to make sure we put a double team on him at all times, because he would get penetration and cause problems for our offense."
-– UTEP Head Coach Gary Nord
"Over the last two years, we have not played against a defensive lineman as good as Harper. He's a great, great player. He has all of the tools to be a great one in the NFL. He can absolutely dominate an offensive line and a football game."
-– Hawai'i Head Coach June Jones
"Alan Harper is probably the best defensive lineman to ever play at Fresno State. His motor is always running and he is the leader of our defense. Over the last two years, I have not seen an offensive lineman who can single-handedly block him and we have played against some pretty good offensive teams. He is so quick and explosive."
-– Fresno State Head Coach Pat Hill
"Defensively, you also have to applaud the performance of senior DT Alan Harper. While Tennessee's John Henderson, North Carolina's Julius Peppers, Notre Dame's Anthony Weaver and Wisconsin's Wendell Bryant may have garnered more national publicity prior to the 2001 campaign, Harper has definitely made his mark as one of the elite DTs in the country. In the process, he's also soaring up the draft board."
-- ESPN Draft Expert Mel Kiper, Jr.
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| Getting Defensive |
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The Fresno State defense is operating on all cylinders. The Bulldogs have allowed only 21 second half points to their last five opponents. This continues a trend that has seen the FS defense prove nearly impossible on which to run. In the past five games, the Bulldogs have allowed only 2.6 yards per carry and an average of just over 100 rushing yards per game. This has helped compliment an offense that has averaged 554 total yards in that same time span. In the last five games, the Bulldogs have been downright miserly in the second half, allowing only 21 points. In fact, Fresno State has allowed nine or fewer points in the second half eight times in 2001. And in the last two games, the defense has hellped create a nine turnovers and now have 36 takeaways this year, second best in the nation. Fresno State is tops in the WAC in scoring defense and second in total defense and has racked up a conference-best 92 tackles for loss and 47 sacks.
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| Alan Harper |
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Year: Senior
Position: Defensive Tackle
Height: 6-2
Weight: 285
Hometown: Fontana, Calif.
High School: Fontana
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| Extras |
Complete Bio!
Harper PDF Promo Page
Leader of the Pack
Oct. 17 ESPN.com Chat Transcript
David Carr Heisman Candidate Page
Send a FANCard
Online Store
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| Blackshirts |
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Fresno State has a unique way of honoring strong defensive efforts during games. Every week after defensive coordinator Dan Brown reviews game film, he makes note of the Bulldogs players who thoroughly dominated their position during the game. These players then receive plain black shirts to wear during practice the following week. Players not receiving blackshirts wear their normal practice uniform. Harper has been a blackshirt recipient 24 of the last 25 games, the most out of any Bulldog. That includes a blackshirt in all eight games this year.
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Preseason
Publication
Accolades |
Athlon Sports
· WAC Defensive Player of the Year
Lindy's
· First-team All-WAC
Preview Sports
· First-team All-WAC
The Sporting News
· First-team All-WAC
· 14th-best defensive lineman in the nation
Street and Smith's
· WAC Defensive Player of the Year
· Honorable Mention All-America
WAC Media
· WAC Defensive Player of the Year
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| Official Websites |
Outland Trophy
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