On a Red Bulls squad whose average age is 23.7 years, defender Cameron Harper is already a seasoned veteran in Major League Soccer. 

At just 23 years old, Harper has already participated in 100 games for the Red Bulls in various competitions, positioning him as the 19th defender in the team’s history to achieve this milestone. Harper has also shown his leadership qualities by providing guidance to the younger players on the team.

It’s a position that Harper described as “crazy” while reflecting on it leading up to Saturday’s home opener against Nashville. 

Reflecting on his role in the team, Harper noted that while he would typically be considered one of the younger players on another team, he now finds himself in a more experienced position, especially after the team’s recent playoff games. The playoff experience has been valuable in helping all the players grow on and off the field.

Since becoming a regular starter in the 2023 season, Harper has been a crucial player for the Red Bulls. He showcased his importance by starting in all five playoff games last season, accumulating a total of 485 minutes of playtime on the field.

The Red Bulls defender also gave the squad a bit of versatility with his ability to play in several different areas on the pitch.

Harper logged time during the 2024 MLS campaign everywhere from right back, wing back, attacking midfield and, at times, forward, among other spots. 

Head coach Sandro Schwarz hinted that Harper’s versatility will be utilized once again as the club looks to return to the MLS Cup final after last season’s run in the playoffs. 

“It’s good to have this flexibility in our roster to have these profiles of players that they are able to play more than one position,” Schwarz said. “That’s good to have him and this profile. We have to answer first our structure and to look at which player is in the best position in this structure.” 

Invaluable, too, for the Red Bulls is the fact that Harper can identify with the roster’s younger members and pass along the knowledge he’s gained over the years. In particular, he mentioned forward Julian Hall and midfielders Tanner Rosborough and Aiden Jarvis. 

“I just try to create a really good environment for them, one where they’re able to come up,” Harper said. “I like to say that the way I treat them, they see me as someone who, if they need to talk to someone about something, if they need any input, I’m always open. I’m always there to give any advice. Just seeing them in training, in the preseason, a lot of these kids are going to be ready very soon. 

“So, I try to be someone who pushes them on but also trying to be supportive and trying to help them on their way and on their development.” 

The Red Bulls are facing plenty of pressure this season after stunning the soccer world during the postseason last year on their way to their first MLS Cup appearance since 2008. 

Schwarz said that the team expect a lot from themselves after last year, but reiterated his stance that the past is in the past. 

“We expect a lot from our side and our quality and performance, hopefully, every weekend,” the Red Bulls coach said. “But at the end, it’s now a new season, we have new faces and not to compare end of the season [last year] and our beginning of [this] season. It starts new.”