| No. 29 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | October 8, 1944 Lakeland, Florida | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Lakeland (FL) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Florida | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1967 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL/AFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||||||
Jack Ridley Harper (born October 8, 1944) is an American former college and professional football player who was a running back in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for two seasons during the 1960s. Harper played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Miami Dolphins of the AFL and NFL.
Harper was born in Lakeland, Florida in 1944. [1] He attended Lakeland High School, [2] and he played for the Lakeland Dreadnaughts high school football team.
Harper accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Ray Graves' Florida Gators football team from 1963 to 1965. [3] Memorably, he had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown versus the SMU Mustangs in 1964, and had 111 receiving yards against the Florida State Seminoles in 1965. [3] Harper led the Gators in kick return yardage for three consecutive seasons, [3] and as a senior halfback in 1965, he became one of quarterback Steve Spurrier's favorite passing targets out of the backfield. He had 1,127 total yards gained in 1965, including 286 rushing, 403 receiving and 438 kick return yards. [3]
In July 1966, Harper was one of 83 rookies to show up at the original Miami Dolphins training camp held on St. Petersburg Beach. Harper suffered a slight back injury on the second day of practice, [4] and he was cut on July 9, 1966, before the free agent veterans showed up, as the original group of 83 rookies had to be cut to 49 that day to make room for the incoming veterans. [5] The next year, Harper signed with the AFL expansion franchise Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 1967, and he played for the Dolphins in fourteen games from 1967 to 1968. [6] He compiled 197 rushing yards and a touchdown on forty-one carries, and 212 receiving yards and three touchdowns on eleven catches in his two AFL seasons. [1]
John L. Williams is an American former college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. Williams played college football for the University of Florida. A first-round pick in the 1986 NFL Draft, he played professionally for the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.
Derrick Jabar Gaffney is an American former football wide receiver. He played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft, and also played for the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins.
Richard Jose Casares was an American college and professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) for twelve seasons during the 1950s and 1960s. Casares played college football for the University of Florida, where he was standout fullback and kicker. Casares played professionally for the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins of the NFL, and was a member of the expansion Miami Dolphins of the AFL.
Nathaniel Moore is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. Moore played college football for the Florida Gators, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. He is best known as a favorite passing target of Dolphins quarterbacks Bob Griese and Dan Marino. Nat Moore is also credited as football consultant in the 1977 movie Black Sunday.
Wesley Sandy Chandler is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, and ranked twelfth in NFL history in receiving yards and thirteenth in receptions when he retired. Chandler is a member of the Chargers Hall of Fame. He played college football for the Florida Gators and was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Kerwin Douglas Bell is an American football coach and former player who is currently the Head Coach of the Western Carolina Catamounts football team. Bell was born in the North Central Florida town of Live Oak and was a star high school football quarterback at Lafayette County High School in nearby Mayo, Florida. Bell did not attract the attention of top college football programs while playing at the small high school, so he decided to attend the University of Florida in nearby Gainesville and joined the Gators as a walk-on.
Louis Oliver, III is an American former college and professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. Oliver played college football for the University of Florida, and was twice recognized as an All-American. He was a first-round pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL.
Lorenzo Timothy Hampton is an American former college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1980s. Hampton played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.
Bernard Paul Parrish was an American college and professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) for eight seasons during the 1950s and 1960s. Parrish played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL and the Houston Oilers of the AFL. Parrish's football memoirs later stirred controversy.
Jarvis Eric Williams, Sr. was an American college and professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. Williams played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as an All-American. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants of the NFL. Williams died unexpectedly at the age of 45.
William Lawrence Smith is an American former college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 1960s and 1970s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, and earned All-American honors. He was a first-round pick in the 1969 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins of the NFL.
The 1966 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. The Gators competed in the University Division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In their seventh season under head coach Ray Graves, the Gators compiled a 9–2 overall win–loss record, finished 5–1 and placed third among the SEC's ten teams. Led by quarterback Steve Spurrier, the Gators outscored their opponents by a combined total of 265 to 147 and concluded their 1966 season with a 27–12 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 1967 Orange Bowl. The Gators were not ranked in the final AP Poll, but finished No. 11 in the final UPI Coaches Poll.
William Travis McGriff is an American former college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in two different professional football leagues. McGriff played college football for the University of Florida, where he was a member of a national championship team. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL), and the Orlando Predators and Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League.
Hagood Clarke, III is an American former college and professional football player who was a defensive back in the American Football League (AFL) for five seasons during the 1960s. Clarke played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Buffalo Bills of the AFL.
Harmon Leon Wages is an American former college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1960s and 1970s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.
Jimmy DeWayne DuBose is an American former college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons during the 1970s. DuBose played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.
Vincent Kendrick was an American former college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons during the 1970s. Kendrick played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.
Elliott Cornelius Jackson Jr., nicknamed Jack Jackson, is an American former college and professional football player who was a wide receiver for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). Jackson played college football for the University of Florida, and earned All-American honors. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Chicago Bears of the NFL, and also the Orlando Predators, Carolina Cobras and Florida Bobcats of the AFL.
Richard Earl Trapp is an American former college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL) for two seasons during the late 1960s. Trapp played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, played professionally for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers of the AFL.
Lee Colson McGriff is an American former college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for a single season in 1976. McGriff played college football for the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their inaugural season in 1976.
