Alvin Harper

Alvin Harper was born on July 6, 1967, in Lake Wells, Florida, USA. He attended Frostproof High School, where he was recognized as a USA Today high school All-American in football in 1986. Beyond football, Harper excelled in track and field, holding the Florida High School high jump record at one point and winning two state Class A high jumping titles. He also played basketball, averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds per game, showcasing his multifaceted athletic early career.

Harper continued his football career at the University of Tennessee, where he accepted a scholarship. As a freshman, he recorded 15 receptions for 247 yards and one touchdown in 12 games. During his sophomore year, he became a starter, achieving 37 receptions for 487 yards and 5 touchdowns in 11 games, including a school single-game record of 12 receptions against Washington State University. He earned All-Southeastern Conference Freshman First-team honors in 1987 and All-Southeastern Conference first-team honors in 1990. Harper’s college career concluded with 103 receptions for 1,547 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also continued his track and field success, winning the 1989 Southeastern Conference indoor high jump championship and anchoring the University of Tennessee’s 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays.

In the 1991 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Harper in the first round as the 12th overall pick. He played for the Cowboys for four seasons, contributing to their victories in Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII. During his time with the Cowboys, he had notable plays, including a 70-yard slant route reception in the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers and a 45-yard touchdown reception in Super Bowl XXVII. Following his tenure with the Cowboys, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995 but was affected by injuries. He later played for the Washington Redskins in 1997 and the New Orleans Saints in the same year, before returning briefly to the Dallas Cowboys in 1999 and concluding his professional football career with the Memphis Maniax in the XFL in 2001. Harper finished his NFL career with 191 receptions for 3,473 yards and 21 touchdowns.