Spokane Shock signs former Washington state cornerback Sean Harper Jr. | Washington State University

The Spokane Shock extended his secondary position and increased local interest in its roster on Sunday when the Indoor Football League team announced the signing of former Washington State standout cornerback Sean Harper Jr.

The 6-foot-1,180-pound Harper was a fixture in the Cougars’ defense for six games during their 11-win season in 2018. He missed the latter half of the year with a shoulder injury.

When he was healthy, Harper was asked to cover large, large-scale reception targets and was usually fine.

Hailing from Hartwell, Georgia, Harper played in all 13 WSU games and made two starts in his 2017 debut season at the Palouse.

After a two-year stay at Holmes Community College in Mississippi, he counted 45 tackles, 10 pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble in 19 games – eight starts in his cougar career. Harper signed with the Cougs from Hart County High in 2015 but had to take the juco route to meet academic admission requirements.

He remained committed to the WSU, and after graduating from Pullman School, Harper attended the Houston Texans rookie minicamp as an undrafted free agent, but received no contract. He signed with the CFL’s BC Lions in March 2020. The league’s 2020 season was canceled due to the coronavirus and Harper never appeared in a CFL game.

The Shock season begins March 18 at Spokane Arena against reigning IFL champion Massachusetts Pirates.