Rivals is apparently reporting that Chris Harper, another product from the city of Wichita, Kansas has received an offer from Notre Dame.

 

http://notredame.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=57241

 

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=109&p=8&c=1&nid=3089447

 

scout hasn't confirmed an offer for Harper from ND yet. Its also highly unclear where he'd be recruited at by the Irish. There's been talk of him projecting at QB, WR, RB, S, LB, and as a rush end, so for ND an OLB. Its sort of a developing picture I guess.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if the Irish end up recruiting him for S, but thats just my take.

Actually, Rivals is saying, per his coach, that Harper does NOT have an offer yet.

The guy from Irish Envy that posted it first is usually pretty accurate on this kind of thing...

I hope that 40 time isn't a lie....

When I watch the film of him at QB, his running abilities remind me exactly of Marcus Vick running the option at Va Tech. Marcus was timed in between a 4.42 and a 4.47 in the 40, so I tend to think those times are pretty legit. And no, that has nothing to do with Marcus Vick and his idiotic decision making on and off the field. Just saying, they look like the same guy when the ball is in their hands at QB.

im a little weary about kids that are studs on paper because they've been working out like professionals since they were freshman in high school. These Kansas kids (including A. Brown and his younger brother) all workout with that same guy at that same gym outside of their high school pretty seriously.

 

It's hard to view that kind of worth ethic as a negative, but it begs the question, if these kids are already working that hard and are that physically advanced, aren't they much closer to their ceiling than other recruits? I don't think there's a black and white answer to it but it is something i consider.

 

That's why I like it when kids play multiple sports, cause they aren't focusing 12 months a year on improving their 40 times and bench reps for scouts. It also makes it seem like they are more natural athletes with room to improve other areas like agility, speed, strength, etc. more so than guys who already have hardcore professional trainers.

 

I did have the same concern with Zibby when he committed all those years ago, and that has worked out i suppose, though i don't know if he's ever been as fast as his high school 4.4 speed. I thought the same thing with Prince, and that has yet to be seen, though i think he fits well as a CB.

 

Disclaimer: i have no doubt in my mind that Arthur Brown is one of the best players in the country and he falls into the same category.

Chris, that's a very interesting point of view. It kind of reminds me of the workouts the guys do just before the NFL draft so that they can test well and get drafted higher.

 

I'm in the camp that prospects should be scouted somewhere in between their test scores (which can be misleading if you're just focusing on specific things everyday) and film (which can also be misleading depending on competition level).

 

I also believe A Brown to be a top 5 player this year, and Harper definitely passes the eyeball and measurements tests. I have yet to see his film.

The guy from Irish Envy that posted it first is usually pretty accurate on this kind of thing...

 

As of late morning today he had NOT received an offer from Irish, per Rivals, per Harper's coach. I'm gonna take the word of Harper's coach over a website, a free one at that. Sorry, not trying to be rude but let's look at the sources: coach vs. a free website. For now, I'm going with the coach.

 

Rivals also feels that we will not make a strong push after him.

The differences are noted. I just wanted to throw another name out there, that might end up being on ND's radar. Didn't want to start up some kind of, "Lets make Harper our #1 WR prospect, we need this guy so freakin' bad" drive.

im a little weary about kids that are studs on paper because they've been working out like professionals since they were freshman in high school.

 

It's hard to view that kind of worth ethic as a negative, but it begs the question, if these kids are already working that hard and are that physically advanced, aren't they much closer to their ceiling than other recruits?

 

That is a very interesting point tchris and I hadn't thought of it that way before. Do you feel the same way about Clausen? I know many of us have viewed his preparation as positive but when you talk about ceiling, it puts a different spin on things.

im a little weary about kids that are studs on paper because they've been working out like professionals since they were freshman in high school.

 

It's hard to view that kind of worth ethic as a negative, but it begs the question, if these kids are already working that hard and are that physically advanced, aren't they much closer to their ceiling than other recruits?

 

That is a very interesting point tchris and I hadn't thought of it that way before. Do you feel the same way about Clausen? I know many of us have viewed his preparation as positive but when you talk about ceiling, it puts a different spin on things.

 

Any QB who has 4 years to learn under Charlie Weis hasn't even begun to scratch the surface.

im a little weary about kids that are studs on paper because they've been working out like professionals since they were freshman in high school.

 

It's hard to view that kind of worth ethic as a negative, but it begs the question, if these kids are already working that hard and are that physically advanced, aren't they much closer to their ceiling than other recruits?

 

That is a very interesting point tchris and I hadn't thought of it that way before. Do you feel the same way about Clausen? I know many of us have viewed his preparation as positive but when you talk about ceiling, it puts a different spin on things.

 

Any QB who has 4 years to learn under Charlie Weis hasn't even begun to scratch the surface.

 

So shouldn't the same be true for other positions as well, regardless of their preparations in high school?

A lot of it depends on coaching.

This is an argument you can spin either way, depending on you loyalties. So, I'm not gonna worry about it.

Todd Marinovich...nuff said.

personal trainer, protein shakes since nursey school, kid had al the stats, specs, etc...in the end lets just go out and get the best damn football players out there.

walter payton ran a 4.9, joe montana was 180# soaking wet, flutie was/is 5'6, OK 5'7 with cleats on...

 

its the fight in the dog that matters.

i meant it mostly from a physicality/athleticism standpoint. I think you always have something to learn in order to player better, especially at QB.

There are very few schools that will allow Harper to play QB. He could end up at a number of positons. He wants to play WR. IMO, he has LB written all over him, 6'2"-6'3" range, 225 lbs with a 4.45 forty. Sounds like a phenomenal LB to me but obviously there is more involved, much more, than the measurables.

There are very few schools that will allow Harper to play QB. He could end up at a number of positons. He wants to play WR. IMO, he has LB written all over him, 6'2"-6'3" range, 225 lbs with a 4.45 forty. Sounds like a phenomenal LB to me but obviously there is more involved, much more, than the measurables.

 

Sounds like Greg Little

More on Chris Harper:

 

http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=109&p=2&c=652927

 

He is saying Notre Dame is waiting to see his ACT scores, before they can make a move.