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Robin PottratzJustin Harper Article
June 30th 2010 00:34
NFL players often get the big head and forget where they came from. Justin Harper is not the typical player in that regard. Recently the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver put on a free football camp at Bandys High school from which he attended before going to prep school in Virginia then graduating Virginia Tech. The players taught high school students on Friday and then younger kids the next day.
Justin Harper was having fun at his football camp on Friday when coaching local high school players. Harper kept laughing and yelling “Maidens got a quarterback” when the young man was throwing. By the way Maiden’s quarterback was throwing at Harper’s camp then yes indeed Maiden does have a quarterback.
Justin Harper told me that he never attended a football camp like what he and several other NFL and college players put on at Bandy’s. He told me he thought a camp would have helped him hone his skills for the higher levels. But he told me talking to the kids was what he hoped helped them more than anything. He stressed school and graduating as well as what takes place on that football field.
Just a few of the other players at the camp were Justin Harper Baltimore Ravens) Macho Harris (Philadelphia Eagles) Justin McCombs (LR) Marcus Shuford (LR) Zach Hamby (Air Force Academy) Antonio Lyerly (Mars Hill). There were plenty more players there but the list would take up half the article space.
It is not known yet how Harper will do on a Baltimore Ravens team that is poised to make a Super Bowl run. Part of the reason that the Ravens are picked by some experts (including me) to represent the AFC, is a standout receiving unit. Justin told me the Ravens would settle for nothing else than a Super Bowl win this season.
But Justin Harper is prepared for life after football whenever it may come. He made sure he got his degree at Virginia Tech Justin Harper got a degree in Property Management while also playing football at Virginia Tech. Justin stressed to me he wanted the kids to understand that football can give them a future and not just in the NFL.
Justin Harper was a delight for me to meet as a lifelong football fan who had never met an active NFL player. He treated me like he would have a reporter from ESPN and shows what a class act he is and how good upbringing shows in people.
I would like to thank Addie Shuford (Harper’s aunt) for her help with getting me over to talk with Justin, and for giving us some background information about him. I also must say that little Jadyn Harper is the cutest Hokie/Raven fan I have ever seen. I would also like to thank Ann Hulbert and Monica Flanagan for braving the heat with me and helping gather info for this article.
This article will also appear in part or it’s entirety in the July issue of the Claremont Courier.
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