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University of Illinois Athletics

2023 Football Roster

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini

0 Nicario Harper

  • Position DB
  • Class Senior
  • Height 6-0
  • Weight 205
  • Hometown Atlanta, Ga.
  • High School Carver
  • Prev School Jacksonville State / Louisville
  • Instagram nicarioharper
  • Twitter nicario2

Biography

NIL Opportunities

2023 Senior

  • Played in all 12 games and started six games at safety
  • 17 tackles vs. Nebraska (10/6/23) are a career high and the third-most in a single game in the B1G this year
  • Started last three games
  • Recorded a career-high five tackles (all solo) at Purdue (9/30/23)
  • Started in place of injured Matthew Bailey vs. FAU (9/23/23) and tallied three tackles and his first interception as an Illini
  • Transferred to Illinois with one year of eligibility remaining
  • Enrolled at Illinois for the spring semester in 2023
  • Made Illinois debut in season-opening win vs. Toledo (9/2/23)

2022 Junior - Louisville

  • Played in five of Louisville's first six games before entering the transfer portal
  • Seven tackles and 0.5 TFL on the season

2021 Sophomore - Jacksonville State

  • Played in nine games, but was limited by an injury
  • All-Atlantic Sun
  • 54 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery on the season

2020 Sophomore - Jacksonville State

  • Started 12 of the 13 spring and fall games
  • OVC Defensive Player of the Year
  • Buck Buchannon Award Finalist
  • FCS ADA All-American as the best player in the nation at his position
  • AP First Team All-American
  • AFCA First Team All-American
  • All-OVC First Team safety
  • HERO Sports First Team All-American
  • Twice received OVC weekly honors including newcomer of the week and defensive player of the week
  • Led Jacksonville State in tackles (92) and interceptions (3)
  • At least six tackles in all but two contests on the season
  • Career-high 13 tackles against Tennessee Tech 2/28/21
  • Returned a fumble recovery for a 64-yard touchdown in the lone fall home contest against Mercer 10/10/20

2019 Sophomore - Southern Mississippi

  • Redshirted the season

2018 Freshman - Southern Mississippi

  • Played in nine games as a true freshman, primarily on special teams
  • Recorded tackles in three games

High School

  • Two-star recruit by Rivals
  • All-Region 6-AAAAA first team as a safety and also earned honorable mention honors as a tight end
  • 94 tackles, 58 solo, as well as a pair of interceptions and 29 passes defended
  • 20 receptions for 386 yards and a touchdown.

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 2022-23Senior

    DB
    6'0" 205 lbs
  • 0

    2023Senior

    DB
    6'0" 205 lbs
    0