Clemson NFL draft bio: Cullen Harper

By Robert Rousseau  |   Tuesday, January 20, 2009  |  Comments( 3 )

Clemson Tigers
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Needless to say, the 2008 college football season was mostly a disappointment to Clemson Tigers fans and players. Quarterback Cullen Harper -- who garnered second-team All-ACC status in 2007 and honorable mention All-America status from CollegeFootballNews.com -- was no exception. As a senior, Harper’s stats took a significant dive.

The fact that Harper sprained a joint in his right throwing shoulder -- one that he had surgery on in the past -- early in the year and also injured his non-throwing shoulder, requiring surgery as well, likely had something to do with his struggles. So did offensive line problems.

That said, Harper should still be an NFL draft pick in April. The question is: Where will he fall?

First, the stats.

Before college: Harper was a three-star pro-style quarterback from Sequoyah High in Alpharetta, Ga.. He threw for 1,123 yards there in 2002.

At Clemson

2005: Harper only threw two passes and was generally unused.

2006: Harper performed solidly in a very limited role, completing 14 of 20 throws for 155 yards and a touchdown.

2007: This was Harper’s breakout season. On the year, he completed a whopping 282 of 433 passes for 2,991 yards, 27 touchdowns and just six interceptions..

2008: Harper hit on 221 of 360 passes for 2,601 yards and 13 touchdowns. The problem was that he also threw 14 interceptions, including two in the bowl game against Nebraska and three versus Boston College.

The measurables: At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Harper has pro size. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.86 seconds.

NFL draft prediction: Along with good size and strength, Harper has a solid arm. Injuries and inconsistency in 2008 have certainly hurt Harper's draft status, but he ought to be taken between the fourth and sixth round.
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About Robert Rousseau

Robert Rousseau is a sports writer that has been published in a variety of print and online venues. He’s been writing for RealFootball365.com for almost three years now. When Rousseau isn’t writing about college football he tends to be penning mixed martial arts pieces for MMAFighting.com or ...
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