ChaseHarp

Expected to be the full-time starter at tight end following the early departure of Derek Smith to the NFL ? Coaching staff was very pleased with his play last season ? One of the top returning tight ends in the Southeastern Conference … Excellent all-around player with good blocking and pass catching skills ? Also has been a valued special teams contributor … Has played in 20 games, including two starts.

2001: Played in every game, starting against Louisville when UK opened in a two-tight end set ? Caught 22 passes for 251 yards, an 11.4-yard average, and two touchdowns ? His most productive game came at Georgia, catching four passes for a career high of 63 yards ? Caught touchdown passes against Florida and Tennessee.

2000 (Sophomore): Played in seven games, missing two because of a sprained ankle and two more because of a broken leg ? Started against Mississippi State ? Played well when available with 11 catches for 134 yards ? Top game was three catches for 67 yards against Indiana, including a long play of 35 yards.

1999 (Redshirt Freshman): Promising season was cut short by a stress fracture that developed in his thigh bone ? Had played very well in the first two games as a reserve tight end ? Caught one pass for 12 yards against Louisville ? Drew praise from the coaching staff for his outstanding blocking.

1998 (Freshman): Redshirted while playing quarterback.High School: Two-year starter at quarterback and free safety at perennial Class AA power Danville (Ky.) HS … As a senior, completed 79 of 147 passes for 1,407 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only five interceptions … Rushed for 644 yards and 14 TDs … Also handled punting duties and averaged 38 yards per punt … Named team MVP following season … Four-year team record was 47-6, including a state championship and two regional championships … On defense, he charted 78 tackles, seven interceptions, seven pass breakups, four fumbles caused, and three fumble recoveries … Honorable mention All-America by USA Today … First-team all-state as chosen by The Associated Press … National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame (Central and Eastern Kentucky Chapter) Class AA Player of the Year … Started at quarterback in the Kentucky-Tennessee High School All-Star Game … Second-team all-state by the Louisville Courier-Journal … Lexington Herald-Leader ?Class of the Commonwealth? … Finalist for the Player of the Year Award given by the Kentucky High School Coaches Association … Named to the all-area and honorable mention all-state teams as a junior … Coached by his father, Sam Harp … A six-year letterman for the Danville baseball team as a pitcher and infielder … Played in the Kentucky East-West All-Star Game … Named to the Academic All-State team … Chose Kentucky over Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Miami (Ohio).

Personal: Full name is Samuel Chase Harp … Born 1-28-80 in Frankfort … Son of Sam and Karen Harp … Sam Harp played collegiate baseball at Morehead State and football at Kentucky State … Chase?s uncle, David Silva, played basketball at San Diego State and for the NBA San Antonio Spurs … Major is kinesiology.

The Cats? Cause: Celebrity reader at the Read Across America school campaign (1998-99) … Visited patients at the Veterans? Hospital (1998-99) … Featured guest at a service event at the Kentucky School for the Deaf (2002).

Harp Career StatisticsYear  Position  G-GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD Long1999  Tight End  2-0   1   12  12.0  0  122000  Tight End  7-1  11  134  12.2  0  352001  Tight End 11-1  22  251  11.4  2  35Totals          20-2  34  397  11.7  2  35