Alabama Football: Seven Crimson Tide Greats Who Were Zero-Star Recruits
By Ronald Evans
Roman Harper – Safety (2001-2005) – Prattville, AL
2001 Recruit Ranking: Zero-Star (NR)
Super Bowl 44 Champion (New Orleans Saints)
2009 NFL Pro Bowl
2005 First-TeamAll-SEC
2005 Thorpe Award Semi-Finalist
2005 Playboy Pre-Season All-America
2004 Second-Team All-SEC
2004 Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award
2003 Bobby Johns Most Improved Defensive Back Award
2002 Ozzie Newsome Most Improved Freshman Award
Roman Harper redshirted for Alabama football in 2001 and played in 12 games in 2002, including one start. During 2002, Harper made 42 tackles and two sacks, broke up two passes, caused two fumbles and made a fumble recovery.
In 2003, Harper was the second leading tackler on the team with 111 stops. He added three pass breakups, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He scored on a 73-yard run after a blocked field goal against Hawaii.
Harper started every game in 2004, made 77 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
By the end of his senior season in 2005, Harper had made 38 consecutive starts for Alabama Football. His career tackles total of 302 placed in the top ten in Crimson Tide history. His signature play in 2005 was a crushing touchdown-saving tackle on a Vol running back. The resulting fumble went out of the end-zone turning possession over to Alabama. The Tide marched up the field and kicked a field goal to win 6-3.
Harper was drafted by New Orleans in the 2006 second round.
Roman Harper played eight seasons with the Saints from 2006-2013. In those eight seasons, he played in 108 games and made 104 starts.
In 2014 and 2015 Harper played and started in 32 games for the Carolina Panthers.
For the 2016 season, Harper returned to the Saints and played in 16 games with four starts.
During Harper’s eleven NFL seasons, he has 639 tackles and 18 sacks. He has defended 67 passes, made 11 interceptions, forced 15 fumbles, and scored two touchdowns.