He was the first player to commit in the 2012 recruiting class and has followed the Mountaineers since he was a little kid. Harper goes to Mountain Ridge High School in Frostburg, Maryland, which is a little over one hour from Morgantown. He may not be a West Virginia native, but he has the Gold and Blue running through his veins just like any passionate Mountaineer fan.
On Wednesday, Harper will become the first person from his high school to play Division I football when he signs his letter of intent. Mountain Ridge doesn’t have school that day because of parent-teacher conferences and Harper will have his Signing Day ceremony in front of over 100 friends, family members and Cumberland natives.
“It’s going to be exciting not only for me, but for my family and my school as well,” said Harper. “For me, I’m the first Division I recruit to come out of my high school. My school is only five years old, so I’m sure it means a lot to my coaches and my family.”
Harper committed to WVU almost one year ago and he’s been getting a lot of support from the community and says he’s very blessed to have the opportunity that’s been presented to him.
“They’ve been congratulating me a lot,” said Harper about how his community has been supporting him. “I had my awards banquet last night and was named Defensive Player of the Year and made All-State. As soon as I walked in there were camera flashes everywhere. It’s been a very humbling experience just to know that everyone from this area is rooting for you.”
The 6-foot-0 safety has been spending his afternoons and weekends working out for about three hours everyday and making sure he is in great shape for summer practices at WVU. Even though Harper has gotten a lot of support since he committed to WVU, he admits it wasn’t always that way.
Harper had some doubters that told him he would never play the Division I game, but fortunately for Harper he proved them all wrong. The Maryland native says that gave him motivation to compete harder and harder every time he touched the gridiron.
“I got a lot of criticism saying I couldn’t do it and all of that stuff,” explained Harper. “I just took it all of that to heart and anytime I did any type of drill or workout I had a point to prove.”
Harper’s accomplishment of earning a Division I scholarship will not only benefit him, but the Frostburg community. He’s hoping his great accomplishment can help motivate other kids to also achieve great things.
“I’m sure it means a lot to them because now they realize that as long as they work hard good things happen to those for those who work hard,” said Harper. “If I have any advice for them it’s just continue to work hard.”
All of Harper’s hard work will pay off Wednesday at one o’clock when he officially signs his letter of intent at Mountain Ridge High School.