'09 WI DE Shelby Harris (Wisconsin Verbal)

[Bernini]

Mequon (WI) Homestead

Ht: 6-3
Wt: 235
40: 4.8
Bench: 370
Squat: 435

Statistics: 8 sacks, 95 tackles (as DT)

Interest from: Wisconsin, Iowa, Purdue, Indiana

Wisconsin Defensive POY in 2007 by the coaches

[Bernini]

Wisconsin Preps $

2/14

Same teams interested. The #2 prospect in the state of Wisconsin grew up a Badger fan and will attend their camp this summer.

[Bernini]

WSN Football

Mequon defensive end Shelby Harris is the Badger's second known commitment of 2009 per Marlin Lee.

[Heavystarch]

Like the aggressive approach early. Hopefully we can lock up the state early to give us more time and resources to attack nationally. Love both of our verbals so far.

[wadc45]

WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL

MON., FEB 18, 2008 - 9:38 PM
UW football: Defensive lineman commits for 2009
By TOM MULHERN
608-252-6169
tmulhern@madison.com

To get an idea of why the University of Wisconsin football coaches made an early offer to Mequon Homestead junior defensive tackle Shelby Harris, just put on the tape from a game last fall against Port Washington.

Unfortunately, it was a foggy night, so the quality of the tape is not great, but Homestead coach Dave Keel called it "one of the most amazing plays I've seen in my coaching career."

Continued...

[wadc45]

Rivals $

3/31

Video interview...discusses his early pledge to the Badgers and his upcoming senior season.

[Bernini]

Shelby was named to the ESPN150 watch list, and this was their accompanying evaluation:

Harris plays some at the defensive end and tackle position in high school, but will be a full time end at the college level. He has adequate size and should be able to add more good bulk to his frame as he enters a college weight program. He displays a good consistent get-off which allows him to get penetration. That should improve some also at the college level as he learns to crowd the ball. He is a physical player at the point of attack. Will flash the ability to play with solid pad level and use his hands. Moves well laterally and displays the ability to shed and side step blocks. Needs to be more consistent in his pad level as he can be pushed off the ball at times and needs to continue to more consistently work across a blockers face. He changes directions well and can be a menace when he gets in the backfield. Does a good job of quickly getting into gaps and getting up-field. Will stay low enough to take on pulling linemen. Runs well and displays a good closing burst to the quarterback. Plays with a good motor and is a solid tackler. As a pass rusher he can get some quick penetration. Will flash the ability to use his hands to work past a blocker. Needs to keep developing as a pass rusher and build an arsenal of some moves. Harris is an athletic kid with good ability and upside. He can still seem a little raw and looks often times to be a cut above his opposition ability wise. Will need to likely adjust to a jump in competition, but has the raw skills to develop into a productive college defender.

[Bernini]

Video Interview with Shelby Harris and teammate courtesy of WSN:

Football08_Homepage

[Bernini]

Shelby Harris - ESPN Video

[Bernini]

October 1st

Originally Posted by MequonNow

the first-unit defense, led by fellow homecoming court member and all-state defensive lineman Shelby Harris, held the Pirates to just 50 yards and three first downs.

[wadc45]

ESPN - More skill prospects than ever in Michigan and Wisconsin - Football Recruiting

ESPNRISE.com Wisconsin Game of the Week

Cedarburg (7-1) at Homestead-Mequon (8-0), Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET:
This is a short week as both teams close out the regular season with a midweek game in Mequon. The playoffs kick off early next week.
The Homestead Highlanders, second-ranked in Wisconsin's Division I (largest-school division), needs a win to claim their eighth straight North Shore Conference championship. The Highlanders advanced to last year's state title game, losing to top-ranked Arrowhead-Hartland, but last won the title in 2006.

This season the Highlanders have shown dominance on both sides of the ball, having shut out three teams and won the last two games over Whitefish Bay and Germantown by a 76-14 aggregate score. Aric Daniels tops the team's ground game. Defensive end Shelby Harris (6-3, 235) will sign with Wisconsin.

The Cedarburg Bulldogs opened with five consecutive wins before losing to Port Washington 28-26. They since have rebounded averaging 45 points in victories over Milwaukee Lutheran Grafton. The offense is paced by running back Logan Lauters, who has rushed for 996 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and scored 15 touchdowns and passing of quarterback Chip Rank (999 yards, 10 TDs). Linebacker T.J. Hogan (6-3, 200) is the top defender. -- Christopher Lawlor

[Bernini]

Homestead defender goes from rough to buff - JSOnline

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
by Bob Gosman

Homestead senior defensive end Shelby Harris did not look like a future Division I prospect four years ago.

Harris, who wore big glasses under his helmet as a freshman, described his coordination this way: "I was always tripping over my feet," he said.

"It wasn't a pretty sight."

Of course, if you had size 16 feet as a freshman, it might take time to grow into your body.

Forty pounds, 3 inches, two shoe sizes and one pair of contact lenses later, Harris has evolved into one of the state's most dominant defensive players. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Harris has made an oral commitment to play for the University of Wisconsin.

As a senior, Harris leads Homestead with 37 solo tackles (70 total) and six sacks. His play has been instrumental in Homestead's dominant defense.

Homestead (13-0) will play Arrowhead (13-0) for the WIAA Division 1 state championship at 4 p.m. Friday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.

"He's grown into his shoes," senior defensive lineman Ben Gardner said with a smile. "He's blossomed into quite an athlete."

Homestead's defense recorded three consecutive shutouts to start the season. The Highlanders have allowed only three teams to score at least 20 points.

"If I get doubled, someone else will get loose," Harris said. "You can't really focus on one person because the whole defensive line and our linebackers have done a great job."

Gardner said playing on the same line as Harris has increased his numbers (58 tackles, six sacks).

"Teams have to game plan for Shelby," Gardner said. "That opens up a lot for other guys to make plays. I give him a lot of credit for that. He gets enough attention that it allows me to get in the backfield and make more plays."

Added junior linebacker Lucas Speaker: "He makes us all better."
Occasionally, Harris will see some time at fullback, where he is used exclusively as a blocker.

Does he wish he could get his number called with the ball?
"I'll leave that to our running backs," Harris said. "My first love is defense."

Harris said he vividly remembers the end to the last two seasons. As a sophomore, Homestead defeated Arrowhead in the state championship game. As a junior, the Warhawks came out on top, 31-7.

"I know I could have played a lot better, and (the team) didn't play as well as we could have," Harris said. "You feel bad for the seniors because they deserved better with all the hard work they put in."
That loss has never been far from the minds of the players.

"It drove us a lot," Harris said. "When everyone else was hanging out at home during the summer, we were lifting and running. We don't want another disappointing end to our season this year."