Captain Shreve’s blind side blocker, Devin Harper, does it better than most
Yes, he’s seen the movie. Yes, he liked it. And, yes, Captain Shreve’s Devin Harper models some of his game after Michael Oher, the subject of the hit sports movie, “The Blind Side.”
“The physical part of it. I liked where he pushed the guy all the way to the bus,” Harper said with a chuckle. “I try to be as physical as I can be when I’m out there on the football field.”
At 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, Harper is accustomed to pushing people around as he protects the blind side of Gator quarterbacks Brodie Savage and Quortni Beaner. One of the top junior offensive tackles in the country, Harper was at his best Thursday night against crosstown foe Byrd at Independence Stadium.
Harper and his cohorts did such a compelling job against the Jackets that running back Jamarlon Otis ran for 198 yards and two scores, while Savage was never seriously threatened in the 35-28 Gator victory.
“We just kept our composure and kept fighting tonight because the game was never over,” Harper said. “We had to keep battling until we came away with the victory."
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Currently the No. 8 interior lineman in the country per 247Sports, Harper has more than 20 offers from schools such as LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Florida State and Penn State. He’s took his first game-visit recently with Shreve coach Adam Kirby to see LSU play host to Grambling State.
“Devin has the quickest feet of anyone I’ve ever coached on the offensive line and has amazing strength and physicality as well,” Kirby said.
A Shreveport native, Harper has always been bigger than most kids his age allowing him to look down on folks from a physical perspective. Standing out in crowds, big or small, is something he’s learned to adjust to.
“I enjoy it more on the football field than in the halls,” he said. “You just get looked at. But a lot of kids recognize you being the biggest kid. It’s cool.”
When he was coming out of Caddo Middle Magnet, Harper considered attending Byrd until he took a deeper look. He didn’t think Byrd’s propensity to run the wing-T fit well with his strengths as a blocker.
“I felt like I would have a better chance to be recruited here, plus we have great coaches too,” he said.
When Harper lines up for the initial play of a game, he conducts a quick evaluation of his opponent, but then begins concentrating more on his assignments than what the guy across the way is doing.
“I look at the other guy to see their strengths, their weaknesses and what they like to do,” he said. “But honestly, I think about my keys as a player. My mindset going into most games is to be physical.”
In addition to being physically imposing, Harper has the smarts to make a difference. Unlike his movie counterpart, he doesn’t struggle in school. He has a 3.3 GPA and already has a 22 on the ACT which gives him a leg up in the recruiting wars. He also has something else.
“I have a lot of confidence in my teammates,” he said. “I know if I do my job and they do theirs, we’ll be just fine.”
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Captain Shreve lineman, Devin Harper, blocks Gators to win over Byrd
