Humboldt State Athletics

Local football legend Dave Harper, who played for Eureka High, College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State, passed away this past month at the age of 55.

After an impressive career playing football locally, Harper was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 11th round of the 1990 NFL Draft.

He would go on to play in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Sacramento Gold Miners/San Antonio Texans, Ottawa Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes.

Harper was a two-year letter-winner for the Lumberjacks during the 1988 and 1989 seasons and was inducted into the HSU athletics hall of fame in 1997.

After graduating from Eureka High, he played for College of the Redwoods, where he was named to the 1986 All-Golden Valley Conference Team.

Harper then went on to Weber State on a football scholarship and transferred to Humboldt State after sitting out the 1987 season.

In his first year as a Lumberjack, Harper was a running back and linebacker, rushing for a season-high 114 yards in a game against UC Davis.

In a game against Azusa Pacific, Harper registered 20 tackles and had one interception.

During his senior season at Humboldt State, Harper posted 125 tackles, including seven tackles for a loss, and five sacks.

After that season, he played in the East-West Shrine Game.

After his professional career, Harper went on to be the athletic director, head football coach and a physical education teacher at Templeton High School.