It's official - Chris Harper is at KSU and he's a QB

[echo31]

http://www.kansas.com/news/breaking/story/853727.html

"I'm definitely going to be a quarterback," he said.

To meet that goal, the work has already begun. Harper was in Tulsa over the weekend for a camp, receiving instruction from Darin Stack, who runs a quarterback academy in Orlando, Fla. Harper said he didn't throw with any consistency after slightly tearing his rotator cuff upon arriving in Eugene. As a result, he tinkered with his delivery, dropping to sidearm, a la Vince Young.

Not anymore.

"It's a whole new philosophy," Harper said. "I'm trying to get to a point where my arm doesn't hurt. I have to get more comfortable with the motion, but it works. It just has to become more natural. I'm throwing more with my entire body. I can throw it 20 yards on a line, and I just learned it.

"I've just started, and after I incorporate my legs... I'm going to keep working with these guys all summer."

[briarduck]

Its funny it sounds like they sold him on being as QB...

Good luck Mr Harper but I just don't see him as a QB. Prove us wrong Chris and do well buddy just not against us!

GO DUCKS

[uodux1212]

"I'm definitely going to be a quarterback," he said.

The homesick excuse is looking pretty weak right now. Lame.

GO DUCKS

[Hoagduck]

He was never going to be a QB for Oregon. Period. If he stayed he would have just miserable, and that kind of negative energy is a killer to team chemistry; t was best for everyone that he left. I hope his throwing gets a lot better. It'll have to if he really wants to be a D-1 qb.

[betty white]

Not wishing any ill will against him, but if he goes to K-State and blows it up as a quarterback, it is another black eye for the Duck coaches and some more negative recruiting ammo. So....

[echo31]

Not wishing any ill will against him, but if he goes to K-State and blows it up as a quarterback, it is another black eye for the Duck coaches and some more negative recruiting ammo. So....

Good point. The problem was always with the muscles in his shoulder. If the KSU coaching staff can use his redshirt season to heal that up and he turns out to be a good or even decent passing QB, it will make Bellotti and Kelly look really bad.

[GrandpaDuck]

The muscle thing, happened trying to learn a new throwing motion. When I watched his highlights from high school, it appeared he thought the football was a shot put. He obviously had to change his form, which he attempted to do at Oregon, overdid it to the point of slightly injuring himself or at least developing soreness in his shoulder.

Harper was a true freshman which means it is very possible he can still be tutored to the point of learning to throw. The Oregon coaches, I think thought it was a waste and a gamble to try to turn him into a QB when he could contribute immediately at another position. KSU has nothing to lose, if he becomes a good quarterback great for them, if he sits on their bench as 3rd string QB, at the least he isn't scoring touchdowns against them as a UO Duck receiver.

[duckgrad99]

Good riddence to him. He had his shot at qb at Oregon and failed. He should have just gone to KState to begin with. If he has success with KSTATE, so be it. I'm happy with Masoli and Thomas at that position.

[freedjr]

Good luck Harper! I wish he would have been happy with being a receiver at the O, but I truly wish him success.

I don't think success would look negative towards Oregon. Kids transfer all the time. Recruits know that.

[UOducksTK1]

I wish Harper well. I'm a little disappointed because if feels like he left us because he got beat at the QB position. He says he was homesick but I personally think it was more than that.

DT said it best.

[DmoneyDuck]

The longer this unfolds, the worse he looks. We promised him a shot, gave him a shot at qb, and he just isn't a good qb, so then he uses the homesick excuse to leave? I really hope we rock his world when we play them.

[woundedknees]

There is no doubt in my mind that had CH won the QB starting position, we would not be having this discussion now.

Probably the same if he had been the #2 QB, but he obviously thinks he has the talent.

Only time will tell. He has a full season on the Scout team to develop.

[monster]

Bradford, McCoy, Robinson, Harper ...?

[jimmyg]

He's happy about being able to throw the ball 20 yards on a line? Baby steps I guess, but middle school kids can do that.

[midwestduck82]

He was never going to be ahead of Thomas in his career at Oregon. He is better off at KSU because they can create a team around him. We are better off as well.

I wish they would have told him that he couldn't transfer to KSU. No coach should let a player go to a team that we have to play in a couple years. Kelly has been too easy with these guys, definitely too easy with Tonio. He needed more guidance from the coaching staff. We would have a stout D-line with him there now.

Harper might have to play against Pflu in 2010.