Q&A with senior cornerback Madre Harper
08/28/2019 | 11:30:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois senior cornerback Madre Harper proved to be an impact player in his debut year with the Salukis in 2018. The hard-hitting corner was second on the team in pass deflections with six and led his position group in tackles with 46.
High school football in Texas seems to have a bigger reputation than most states. As someone who has experienced it first hand, does it live up to the hype?
High school football in Texas has the feel of college football in my opinion. It's a different type of vibe and culture. We take our football very serious and it has definitely been noticed. Everyone has seen the high school facilities on twitter and how big the stadiums and weight rooms are. But the competition is just as notable.
What was your most memorable moment playing football in Texas?
Getting to see all of my boys go D1 (NCAA Division I) and some go pro was a great feeling. Myles Garrett and Luke Joeckel were two that grew up near me, who not only ended up in the NFL, but were top picks in the first round.
Who was the toughest player you ever went up against?
I didn't personally go up against him, but Myles Garrett was an absolute beast on the field. Both of us ran track too, and to see a defensive end of his size run the 4x100 was just crazy.
Were you a pretty good track athlete as well?
I was a two-time state qualifier and broke three school records in high school. I ran the 300-hurdles, 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays. I thought about running track in college, but I just wanted to focus on football at that point. Track is a tough sport and some of these athletes are next-level fast nowadays.
Was football always the sport you wanted to play at the college level?
I have been playing football since I was five years old. I was even playing tackle at five and was getting to it each and every day. Some coaches would call me the machine because they thought I was made for the sport. My dad and I put in a lot of hours and a lot of work when I was young so that I could get to where I am at today. My dad wanted to make sure that I had speed, so on the weekends when most kids were playing video games or watching cartoons, I was running hills, working out and going to different camps to get better. All of the work growing up was to get to this moment in my life.
Is the ultimate goal the NFL?
I definitely want to go to the league. But it has always been about taking one step at a time. My parents just wanted me to have fun growing up and to not think that far ahead. I had to first focus on doing work in high school. Once I accomplished that, the same mentality carried over to college football.
With the season-opener against SEMO right around the corner, what kind of rush do you get stepping on the field for the first game after months of preparation?
It always feels great. I can tell you this, I'm tired of going up against our offense. We have already matched up against them many times and it's going to feel good to go up against other people that I don't know as well. I also want to finally cheer for our offense, because every practice is a competition and we're each vying to be the best on both sides of the ball. I'm excited to watch my teammates make plays and see everything that we've been working on come together.
Can it be difficult to hold back in practice, since some days are not full pads or full contact?
I can't wait to get the pads popping because it's difficult at times. I like to hit, I like to tackle and I feel like I am a great tackling corner. I cover with the best of them, but I can also come off the edge and make a tackle. That is definitely one of my strong suits.
When you entered college as a freshman, did you have different strengths?
I have always been a hard hitter. You can ask any of my coaches from pee-wee ball to college. I have never been afraid to hit people and defense has always been in my nature.
How has your mentality changed from when you first entered college as a freshman to the now as a senior?
My football intelligence has grown a lot. I know the game and speed of college football much better. I find myself making smarter decisions and being more confident on my techniques and shades in situations. I've also built muscle from the weight room. I came into college at 165 pounds and I'm up to 195 now, so obviously that has helped on the field when it comes to physicality and making tackles.
Have you put it upon yourself to be a mentor for some of the younger defensive backs at SIU?
Absolutely. I have just been teaching the ropes and setting the standard for the younger guys on how we practice and the tempo we go at. I don't care who touches the field, because everybody should be able to go out and take my place at any moment's notice. I don't want any drop-off between the younger guys and I, so I always tell them to keep working, learn the playbook and get stronger in the weight room. You never know when that time may be called upon yourself.
With you beginning your college football career with FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) Oklahoma State, what are your thoughts on the talent level of the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision)?
I think the competition is great. You may not have the huge names on every team, but a lot of these players are blue-collar guys that were either overlooked or have a real chip on their shoulder. They play with a different type of tenacity.
What do you want people to remember you as when you're done at SIU?
I want people to remember me as someone who worked hard and did everything coaches asked for. Hopefully they will talk about how when Madre came on the field, he was going to be a dog.
