The question was whether he thought he was a priority for the Kansas State coaching staff, and Chris Harper paused.
Whether it was an attempt to be modest, or whether it was because he momentarily drew a blank – it was unclear. But the Northwest quarterback who visited Manhattan on an official visit over the weekend quickly came to his senses.
“I guess you could say that – from the way they talk,” Harper said Monday. “A lot of the stuff I did on my visit they said they don’t usually do with everyone.”
For instance, Harper attended a class on Friday. And after the Wildcats’ 49-32 loss to Missouri Saturday, he was Ron Prince’s special guest as the K-State coach filmed his television show, an experience Harper described as “pretty cool.”
And there was the matter of meeting the legendary former K-State coach, Bill Snyder.
Seems Harper’s father and brother are huge KSU fans and, by extension, Snyder fans. Harper was always a college football fan, never forming any allegiance with a certain team. But he did become quite the follower of Michael Bishop, the option quarterback whom some K-State fans compare with Harper.
Anyway, he didn’t get a chance to meet Bishop. But meeting Snyder was a nice consolation prize.
“That’s the first time he’s done something like that,” Harper said. “He doesn’t ever meet with recruits. It was the first time I met him. He was real cool, a real humble person for someone with all of his success.”
According to Harper, Snyder knew quite a bit about him. They also discussed how Harper might fit in at K-State, what role he might play (more on that later) and yes, about former players, such as Bishop.
Prince won’t be bringing back the option anytime soon, though. He’s committed to his system, even though Harper’s strengths are his athleticism (he was timed at 4.38 in the 40 this summer). During Harper’s visit, Prince and offensive coordinator James Franklin provided tape of Virginia’s offense when Marques Hagans, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound athlete, played quarterback for the Cavaliers.
Of course, he also played running back and wide receiver, which is the position he was drafted to play in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams.
But Harper is adamant about playing quarterback. The coaches assured Harper the present offense could be tweaked to incorporate his running skills. Asked if it was the same offense commanded by Josh Freeman, Harper said yes.
“They just don’t run with him,” he said. “I think he runs a 4.9.”
He’s going to check out Oregon soon, and he’s deciding between the Ducks, K-State, Illinois, Missouri and Notre Dame. All, he said, want him at quarterback, but there might be one school among that group looking to add a wrinkle to the package, hoping to use him in a variety of roles.
“All five aren’t on the same level,” he said.
The Tigers, despite a recent commit from former Nebraska pledge Blaine Gabbert, are still in pursuit, and Harper hasn’t back off his interest in Mizzou because of that, either.
“Everybody who knows he knows I’m not scared of competition,” he said.
A decision will be made in December, and it will likely be made public the same day (and location) his friend, East linebacker Arthur Brown, makes his choice known.
There is no leader – he’s not going down that road again – but he liked what he saw of the Little Apple over the weekend.
“I like the team and coaches a lot,” Harper said. “My only question was how I was going to fit. That was my biggest question. … I’ve known a lot of the players for a while, played against them.
“I just needed to know how’d I fit.”