Harding Harper was named executive director of recruiting and personnel for USF Foot-ball in March of 2025, joining Head Coach Alex Golesh’s staff in his third season.
A former linebacker at Vanderbilt (2012-15), Harper came to USF after stops at Alabama, Colorado, Houston and his alma mater.
He served the 2024 season on the staff at Vanderbilt as director of college scouting as the Commodores went 7-6 and won the Birmingham Bowl.
He returned to Nashville following one season as assistant director of player personnel at Alabama, where he helped the Crimson Tide secure the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class in December 2023.
He served as assistant director of player personnel at Houston in 2022 following the 2021 season which he spent at Colorado in scouting. At Colorado, he worked for then-head coach Karl Dorrell, who was on staff at Vanderbilt during Harper’s playing days.
Harper also spent time at Lycoming College (linebackers coach), Missouri (graduate assistant) and Centennial High School in Atlanta where he was assistant defensive coordinator, coached linebackers and served as the school’s recruiting coordinator. He also served as a visiting intern at Penn State.
Harper played linebacker at Vanderbilt from 2012-15, appearing in 14 career games while battling injuries. He saw action in all 13 games as a sophomore in 2013, making three tackles. His freshman and sophomore seasons were two of the most successful in school history, with the Commodores winning nine games and a bowl game each season. He went on to serve as a two-time captain despite playing in just two games during the remainder of his career.
The Birmingham, Alabama, native prepped at Carver Montgomery High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track. His father, Harding Jr., and uncle, Ronald Sr., were both record holders on the football team at Alabama State, while his brother, Montarius Smith, set SWAC records at Alabama A&M. His cousin, Roman, is an analyst for SEC Network/ESPN who played at Alabama and in the NFL.
Harper graduated from Vanderbilt in 2016 with a degree in political science.
