Rod Harper
Encyclopedia
Rod Harper is an American football
wide receiver
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers
in 2008. He played college football
at Murray State.
Harper has also been a member of the Arkansas Twisters
, New Orleans Saints
, and Philadelphia Eagles
.
s in 2007 and earned Second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference
. He ranks third in school history in both career receiving yards (1,653) and touchdowns (20).
and signed with the Green Bay Packers
as an undrafted free agent.
, where he debuted in 2009. On June 4, 2009 he signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints
and was placed on the Twisters' "Other League Exempt" list. When he signed with the Saints, Harper was leading the league in multiple categories, including scoring (228 points), total touchdowns (38) and receiving touchdowns (38). He was also tied for the league lead in receptions (107) and ranked second in receiving yards (1,375).
Harper performed well in the Saints' 2009 preseason games, returning two punts for touchdowns, and he made the team's regular season roster. He was not active for any regular season games, however, and on October 16, 2009 the Saints placed him on their injured reserve list with a stress fracture in his left foot, effectively ending his 2009 season.
The Saints released Harper on August 24, 2010.
' practice squad on September 22, 2010. He spent the rest of the season on the practice squad, and was re-signed to a future contract on January 10, 2011. He was waived during final cuts on September 2.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in 2008. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Murray State.
Harper has also been a member of the Arkansas Twisters
Arkansas Twisters
The Allen Wranglers are a professional indoor football team based in Allen, Texas play in the Indoor Football League. The Wranglers play their home games at the Allen Event Center.-History:...
, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, and Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
College career
Harper attended Murray State, where he led the team with 57 receptions for 779 yards and 10 touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s in 2007 and earned Second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
. He ranks third in school history in both career receiving yards (1,653) and touchdowns (20).
Green Bay Packers
Harper went unselected in the 2008 NFL Draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
and signed with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
as an undrafted free agent.
New Orleans Saints
Harper joined the af2 following his release from the Packers, and was assigned to the Arkansas TwistersArkansas Twisters
The Allen Wranglers are a professional indoor football team based in Allen, Texas play in the Indoor Football League. The Wranglers play their home games at the Allen Event Center.-History:...
, where he debuted in 2009. On June 4, 2009 he signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
and was placed on the Twisters' "Other League Exempt" list. When he signed with the Saints, Harper was leading the league in multiple categories, including scoring (228 points), total touchdowns (38) and receiving touchdowns (38). He was also tied for the league lead in receptions (107) and ranked second in receiving yards (1,375).
Harper performed well in the Saints' 2009 preseason games, returning two punts for touchdowns, and he made the team's regular season roster. He was not active for any regular season games, however, and on October 16, 2009 the Saints placed him on their injured reserve list with a stress fracture in his left foot, effectively ending his 2009 season.
The Saints released Harper on August 24, 2010.
Philadelphia Eagles
Harper was signed to the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
' practice squad on September 22, 2010. He spent the rest of the season on the practice squad, and was re-signed to a future contract on January 10, 2011. He was waived during final cuts on September 2.