Notre Dame DB Thomas Harper signs UDFA deal with Los Angeles Chargers
After the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweeted that Notre Dame defensive back Thomas Harper signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. Harper will join Irish offensive tackle Joe Alt, who was picked No. 5 overall by the Chargers.
He’ll will reunite with former Irish safeties coach Chris O’Leary in Los Angeles.
Harper spent one season with the Fighting Irish, primarily playing as the defense’s nickel/slot cornerback, after transferring from Oklahoma State. In 11 games, he collected 39 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks, 3 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble.
Pro Football Focus graded Harper as the team’s top tackler and third-best run defender. They also awarded him 17 run stops. In 246 pass coverage snaps, he surrendered 26 catches for 236 yards and 1 touchdown.
“He’s a high-motor guy,” said Chris O’Leary to reporters in the preseason. “When he’s out there, you can feel his energy. He’s brought a lot to our defense.”
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein projected Haper as a seventh-round draft choice or a priority undrafted free agent. His 5.81 grade says the 5-10⅝, 295-pounder should become an average backup or special-teamer.
“(Harper is a) nickel cornerback with the traits and toughness for consideration as a fill-in safety if needed,” Zierlein said. “Harper’s only season as a starter came in his single year at Notre Dame, but he looked capable in his role. He’s tenacious in coverage and as a run defender. He has above-average explosiveness and the ability to make up ground when needed.
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“He stays hyper-focused on his man in coverage and lacks ideal eye balance and length to make plays on the football. Harper needs work in both man and zone coverages, but he has the traits, toughness and upside to have a chance once he gets into a camp.”
Before Notre Dame, Harper appeared in 42 games across four seasons for Oklahoma State. He had 93 tackles (64 solo), 5 for loss, 8 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
His best season with the Cowboys came as a sophomore in 2020. In 11 games that season, he amassed a career-high 30 tackles and 4 passes defensed while forcing two turnovers.
A product of Knoxville (Tenn.) Karns, Harper’s only Power Five offer was from Oklahoma State.
According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services, Harper was the No. 1,272 overall player, No. 26 “athlete” nationally and No. 38 prospect in Tennessee in the 2019 recruiting cycle.
