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."

Keel was worried about a fake, so he kept his base defense on the field. Harris, 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, did it all on his own, charging into the backfield so deep he blocked the punt with his chest, which caused the football to carom backward 30 yards into the end zone. Harris then beat everybody to the ball and fell on it for a touchdown.

After receiving an offer during Junior Day on Saturday, Harris made an oral commitment to be a part of UW's 2009 recruiting class.

Harris, who also plays basketball, showed his athleticism on the court in a recent game against Cedarburg, blocking a shot and pinning the ball against the backboard. He runs the 40-yard dash in about 4.8 seconds.

Keel said he has had about eight scholarship athletes in the defensive line in the last eight or nine years, going to schools such as Northern Illinois, Youngstown State and North Dakota State, but Harris is in a class of his own.

"He's got excellent quickness and an ability to be around the ball every snap," Keel said. "We've been trying to put some highlight films together for some of our other athletes, because we have some other good ones coming back. It seems like (Harris) is kind of hogging all the tackles.

"Every time we try to find a play for someone else, sure enough, he's in on the play, too. He's got a special nose for the football and he's athletic and quick enough he can run down the fastest of backs. If you run away, he'll pursue. If you run at him, he'll stuff it up."

Harris became a starter midway through his sophomore year, helping Homestead win the WIAA Division 1 state title.

He became a dominant force this past season as Homestead went back to the state championship game, losing to Hartland Arrowhead.

Keel used Harris at defensive tackle and end, lining him up wherever he thought opposing offenses wanted to run.

Harris finished with 110 tackles, about 45 solos, with 14 tackles for loss and seven quarterback sacks. He forced three fumbles.

Harris has plenty of room to grow. He's got size 18 feet and huge hands, according to Keel.

"I think he's just barely scratching the surface," Keel said. "He's only 16. I don't think he's had to use a razor yet. He thinks he's going to grow quite a bit and grow into those size 18s. I would anticipate he'll be 25-30 pounds heavier for us next fall."