Thomas Westley Harper Bio
Thomas Westley Harper is an American professional football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Born on November 5, 2000, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Harper played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Notre Dame Fighting Irish before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He joins his older brother, Devin Harper, who plays linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Early Life and Background
Harper was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 5, 2000, to his parents Kevin and Alacia. He grew up in the area and attended Karns High School. His early athletic pursuits centered on basketball before he decided to try out for the school football team as a sophomore.
At Karns High School, Harper quickly established himself as a versatile playmaker. He lined up as both a wide receiver and defensive back for the Karns football team. His exceptional performance earned him all-district, all-region, and team MVP honors. He became the first player in school history to record over 1,000 receiving yards.
During his junior season, Harper recorded 1,086 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, earning all-state recognition. As a senior, he built on that success with 1,279 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. Defensively, he finished his high school career with 155 tackles, 16 passes defended, and three interceptions. Despite these accomplishments, he received only a two-star recruit rating coming out of high school.
College Career
Harper received limited recruiting interest from Power Five programs, with Oklahoma State being the only one to offer him a scholarship. The opportunity also allowed him to join his brother Devin, who was already on the team as a linebacker. He committed to play college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
At Oklahoma State, Harper appeared in 12 games as a true freshman in 2019, primarily contributing on special teams. He recorded 13 tackles during that season. In 2020, he appeared in all 11 games with one start and recorded 31 tackles, earning second-team Academic All-Big 12 Conference honors. His 2021 season saw him play 12 games with 20 tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Harper earned a starting role for the 2022 season. That year, he made 30 tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss while appearing in seven games. For his final season of eligibility, he transferred to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2023. With Notre Dame, he appeared in 11 games and posted 39 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, three passes defended, and two sacks. He opted out of the 2023 Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State due to injury.
Thomas Westley Harper Career
Los Angeles Chargers (2024)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Harper signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent. He competed for a roster spot during the offseason and preseason. However, he was waived on August 27, 2024, as part of the team’s roster cuts.
Las Vegas Raiders (2024–2025)
Harper was claimed off waivers by the Las Vegas Raiders on August 28, 2024. This provided him with an opportunity to continue his professional career with another NFL franchise. He spent the remainder of the 2024 season and portions of the 2025 season with the Raiders before being waived on August 28, 2025.
Detroit Lions (2025–Present)
On August 29, 2025, Harper was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions. This marked his third NFL team in just over a year since entering the league. He joined the Lions roster as a safety and began contributing to the team’s defensive unit. The Lions, an established NFC contender, provided Harper with an opportunity to develop within a competitive program.
Playing Style and Strengths
Harper plays the safety position, bringing versatility from his collegiate experience as both a defensive back and receiver. His background on offense as a high school receiver contributes to his football instincts and playmaking ability. He has shown capability in run support and pass coverage during his early NFL career.
Thomas Westley Harper Career Statistics
Through his first two seasons in the NFL, Harper has accumulated meaningful production across multiple defensive categories. His experience on special teams during college translated to early NFL opportunities.
NFL Statistics Highlights
In his NFL career through the 2025 season, Harper has recorded 63 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, and seven pass deflections. These statistics reflect his contributions as a rotational defensive player and special teams contributor.
College Statistics Summary
During his four seasons of college football, Harper appeared in 46 games across Oklahoma State and Notre Dame. At Oklahoma State from 2019 to 2022, he recorded 94 total tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, and earned Academic All-Big 12 honors. His lone season at Notre Dame in 2023 produced 39 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, three passes defended, and two sacks.
| Level | Tackles | Sacks | Interceptions | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career | 63 | 0.5 | 2 | 7 |
| College Total | 133 | 2.0 | 0 | 9 |
Thomas Westley Harper Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Harper was born to Kevin and Alacia Harper in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is the younger brother of Devin Harper, who plays linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Harper family represents one of the active NFL families with two brothers competing at the highest level of professional football.
Personal Life
Harper chose to continue his football journey at Oklahoma State partly because his brother Devin was already on the roster. This family connection provided him with guidance during his transition to college football at the Power Five level. The brothers have since both reached the NFL, with Devin establishing himself as a linebacker for the Steelers.
2025 Season Performance
Harper began the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders before joining the Detroit Lions via waivers in late August. This marked his third team change since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024. His trajectory demonstrates the competitive nature of roster building in the NFL, where young players must continuously prove their value.
With the Lions, Harper joined a program that has built sustained success in the NFC. His role involves competing for playing time in the secondary while contributing on special teams. The Lions coaching staff evaluated his skill set during practices and determined he could add depth to their defensive backfield.
His early 2025 statistics accumulated across both teams show continued development as an NFL safety. With 63 tackles, two interceptions, and seven pass deflections in his career, Harper has demonstrated the ability to make plays in both coverage and run defense. The move to Detroit presents a meaningful opportunity for increased visibility and potentially expanded responsibilities as the season progresses.