As teams look anywhere and everywhere for talent, a potential tight end prospect is coming as much out of nowhere as any incoming football player ever will.
According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, former UW-Milwaukee basketball player Demetrius Harris has attracted interest from a dozen teams, less than a month after wrapping up his on-court career.
“Things are happening very quickly for Demetrius,” coach Rob Jeter said. “Like I told all the [NFL] coaches, if you want him to shoot free throws, that’s not your man. But if you want him to catch a football, he can do that.”
Chiefs G.M. John Dorsey caught wind of Harris in 2011. “I put him on my Franklin day calendar to explore this guy two years down the road,” Dorsey said. “That’s what I did, and there he is.”
In a workout for the Chiefs earlier this month, Harris ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, jumped 36.5 inches vertically and 10 feet, two inches horizontally.
The six-foot, seven-inch Harris initially signed to play football at Arkansas State, but he failed to qualify academically. He played basketball at a community college for two years, and then he turned down another offer from Arkansas State to return to football.
Harris has visited the Chiefs, and he’s due to visit the Ravens and Cowboys on Sunday and Monday, respectively.
His draft stock will be determined in large part by his Pro Day workout, which takes place on April 20. At least nine teams are expected to attend.
He’s not likely to get drafted, but he’ll get a chance as a free agent. Just like Antonio Gates once did.