Cougs Daily

BYU Safety Micah Harper Out for the Season with an Injury

Harper announced on social media that he will be back in 2024

Casey Lundquist

On Thursday, BYU starting safety Micah Harper announced that he will miss the entire 2023 season. Rumors were swirling over the last week that Harper had suffered an injury. BYU didn't officially confirm the rumors, but Aaron Roderick said one defensive player had suffered a more serious injury. 

Harper took to social media to confirm the rumors, saying he would be back in Cougar blue in 2024. Harper also missed the 2021 season due to a knee injury. 

Micah was one of the best, if not the best, players on BYU's defense in 2022. He racked up 87 tackles including 4 tackles for loss. He also had two forced fumbles and four pass break-ups. His physical presence and tackling prowess will be missed by a BYU defense that is looking to take a step forward in 2023.

For the BYU defense, perhaps most problematic part of the Harper injury is the inexperience at safety. Malik Moore is the only upperclassman listed at safety on the roster. The other 10 safeties on the roster are freshmen and sophomores. All signs point to BYU turning to sophomore safety Talan Alfrey to replace Harper. Outside of Malik Moore and Micah Harper, Alfrey is the most experienced safety on the roster. As a freshman last season, Alfrey 505 total snaps.

Raider Damuni is another name to watch. Damuni was a four-star recruit when he signed with BYU as part of the 2021 signing class. Damuni's talent is undeniable, but he is only eight months removed from his missionary service. If Damuni can shake the mission rust and learn the scheme, he will factor in.

Chika Ebunoha, Preston Rex, and Ethan Slade are a few more names that could compete for a spot in the two-deep at safety.

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Casey Lundquist
CASEY LUNDQUIST

Casey Lundquist is the publisher and lead editor of Cougs Daily. He has covered BYU athletics for the last four years. During that time, he has published over 2,000 stories that have reached more than three million people.

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