Missouri State University

EL PASO, Texas -- Missouri State tight end Clay Harbor has enjoyed a week of national attention and headlines leading to last Saturday's fourth annual Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game. 

After collecting three receptions for 22 yards in the East-West Shrine game in Orlando on Jan. 23, Harbor was equally impressive in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game on Feb. 6 in El Paso, Texas.

Though he had just one reception, for 11 yards, Harbor turned heads throughout the week during workouts with his Texas team. 

Unlike the East-West Shrine Game, when he was a last-minute addition and participated in just one practice, the native of Dwight, Ill., had an entire week with NFL scouts in attendance during Texas vs. the Nation workouts. 

Missouri State's all-time leader in pass receptions was part of the winning team in both all-star events, helping the East team to a 13-10 win in the Shrine game before a dominant 36-17 win by his Texas team in the Texas vs. the Nation event.

Over the previous three years, 93-percent of the Texas vs. the Nation game participants have signed NFL contracts.

Harbor has also been invited to the National Football League Scouting Combine to be held Feb. 24-March 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The 2010 Scouting Combine is the annual job fair for prospective new NFL players. For six days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, players are put through a series of drills, tests and interviews with more than 600 NFL personnel including head coaches, general managers and scouts.

"It is a great opportunity to compete against guys from the BCS schools and show that there are a lot of great athletes at the FCS level," Harbor said in January. "I am very excited about the opportunity and look forward to showing the NFL teams what I can do on the field."

Harbor earned Division I FCS first team All-America honors in 2009 from The Sports Network, Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, and The College Sporting News. He also was named to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first team for the third consecutive year and earned a spot on the MVFC All-Silver Anniversary Squad. He was one of just 10 players in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision to be unanimously selected to The College Sporting News Fab 50 team.

In 2009, Harbor recorded 59 receptions for 729 yards and 4 touchdowns. He had the most receptions by a tight end in the MVFC and second-most nationally. He also led all tight ends nationally in receiving yards per game (66.3). He ended his Bears' career as the school's all-time receptions leader (150) and was third in career receiving yards (1,906). He finished with receptions in 33 consecutive games to tie an MSU record and notched four 100-yard receiving games this season and six for his career, which also tie institutional records.

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Former NFL scout and draft expert Russ Lande posted a daily Texas vs. the Nation summary for the Sporting News Today. Harbor was mentioned as one of the Texas team standouts in every post throughout the week. A summary of those is below:

Monday, Feb. 1
 "Harbor is a very athletic tight end who is viewed as one of the better (FCS) players. He needs to show he has the quickness, burst and speed to compete in the NFL. Though he is not going to zoom up draft boards, a strong week could assure him of being drafted.

Tuesday, Feb. 2
  "Missouri State TE Clay Harbor had a good day. First off, he looks like an NFL tight end at 6-2 ¼ and 250 pounds. He looked smooth and fluid running routes and caught the ball well. He even showed the hands and concentration to make one good catch.

Wednesday, Feb. 3
  "Missouri State TE Clay Harbor was the best player on the field in Tuesday morning's practice. He showed quickness, athleticism and speed in routes - separating from defenders with the speed to stretch the field on seam routes. He caught the ball well, reaching out and easily adjusting to off-target throws.

Thursday, Feb. 4
  "Missouri State TE Clay Harbor was the star of the day, no matter the squad. He ran sharp and precise routes and consistently separated from safeties and linebackers. He fought through jams, too. He showed good acceleration and speed to get down the seam. He caught the ball well and adjusted to make tough catches on overthrown passes. He showed again Wednesday that he is a player NFL personnel men must go back home and study his game films before the NFL Scouting Combine and the end of the month.

Saturday, Feb. 6
  "Harbor displayed very quick feet, reliable hands and good athleticism and speed. He also showed better than expected blocking ability. At 6-2 1/4, 250, he lacks ideal size and needs to prove in the (Texas vs. the Nation) game he can block well enough to be considered an in-line tight end and prospect. Otherwise, he'll be considered more of an H-back type, which could cause him to fall to the sixth or seventh round of the draft.

Sunday, Feb. 7
  "Harbor was consistently solid all week. He showed excellent hands, ran good routes and regularly beat jams at the line. He was able to consistently get separation from safeties and linebackers. With his ability to block, Harbor showed he was clearly the best tight end prospect in El Paso. He likely improved his draft stock as much as any player in the game."