1979 Profile: Bruce Harper

"Tom Thumb masquerading as a kick returner. Although it's no masquerade, really, when considering what Harper has accomplished. Last year he shared the longest punt return in the league with Buffalo's Keith Moody- 82 yards, and both for touchdowns. Harper and Moody tied for second behind Rick Upchurch in NFL punt returns. Harper also led the league in kickoff return yardage with 1,280.

'The big colleges said Bruce was too small. The pros said he was too small,' says Walt Michaels. 'He's always proved everything wrong.'

Born June 20, 1955, in Englewood, New Jersey, he attended Kutztown State. He's led the NFL in all-purpose yardage the last two years. He's a spot player at running back, too."

-Dave Newhouse, the Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Bruce makes things happen every time he touches the ball. He has excellent instinctive reactions to offensive blocks and gets the most out of his size with his great speed and balance, quick feet and good hands. He holds the kick return yardage mark.

Bruce was a high school friend of John Travolta."

-1979 Topps No. 82

1978 Record Breaker, Most Combined Kick Return Yards, Season

"Last season, Bruce set an all-time NFL mark with 1,658 combined kick return yards during the season. He broke the previous record of 1,582 yards set by Chuck Latourette of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968."

-1979 Topps No. 333

1979 Profile: Joe Klecko

Defensive Tackle

No. 73

Temple

"Truck-driving tackle. A one-man convoy on the pass rush. From out of the blue, better yet the interstate, Klecko arrived in the Jets' camp two years ago, a sixth-round pick from Temple. He immediately led the team in sacks with eight.

Born October 15, 1953, in Chester, Pa., he's quite a character. He drove a truck for two years out of high school. Temple's equipment man saw Klecko playing sandlot football and convinced the school to offer him a scholarship. He once sparred with Joe Frazier. 'One of his punches was enough to convince me not to become a professional boxer,' he recalls.

Klecko has been a drag racer, too. Now a truck broker in the off-season, he knows all the good truck stops in the East."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Joe has great speed and quickness for a defensive down lineman and changes directions very well. He plays with a great deal of enthusiasm and has improved with added experience.

As a rookie with the Jets in 1977, he had a hand in at least one quarterback sack in each of his starts. He had eight sacks for the Jets in the final six games of 1977.

Joe has been a drag racer."

-1979 Topps No. 101

1979 Profile: Marvin Powell

Offensive Tackle

No. 79

USC

"Atten-hut!

Son of a career military officer, Powell will soon snap defensive ends to attention once he masters the intracacies and subtleties of playing offensive tackle. Oakland's Al Davis said Powell was the best athlete in the 1977 draft.

Probably the most sophisticated, too. He loves to read poetry and listen to classical music. He's a conservative, disciplined person.

His father fought in the Normandy invasion at 15 and in Korea and Vietnam. Marvin's combat is happily confined to a different kind of trench. He was born August 30, 1955, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Powell was a three-time all-conference and an All-American at USC. Like Chris Ward a year later, he was the fourth player taken in the NFL draft."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Marvin has overpowered people during his two campaigns with the Jets. He's improving on his pass blocking and has all the tools necessary to be an All-Pro.

Considered by many to be the best player in the 1977 college draft, Marvin played in three Rose Bowls and a Liberty Bowl during his career at USC. He was a first-team All-America as a senior.

Marvin enjoys reading poetry."

-1979 Topps No. 63

R.I.P. Kevin Long

1979 Profile: Chris Ward

Offensive Tackle

No. 72

Ohio State

"Mount Everest in cleats. Big, broad tackle, who when he spreads out, you need a mountain climbing team to get all over him. Ward is probably bigger than he's listed. 

Born December 15, 1955, in Cleveland, he's another of Woody Hayes' fat tackles who've made it in the pros. However, Ward figures to make it bigger than any Buckeye since Jim Parker. 'I see Chris as a modern edition of Parker,' says head coach Walt Michaels, 'and I wouldn't say that about many people. With Marvin Powell at right tackle, we've got two bookends for the next 10 years.'

Ward was an instant starter for the Jets after he was the fourth player taken in the 1978 draft. He's so versatile, he could play guard or tackle."

-Dave Newhouse, the Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)