• Could Milwaukee have an NFL player before an NBA player?

    The answer is yes, of course, because Mike Reinfeldt played defensive back for the Raiders and Oilers in the 70's and 80's. But the next pro star (besides soccer and baseball) out of Milwaukee Athletics might be following in Reinfeldt's footsteps and not to the NBA.

    That player is Demetrius Harris, who spent the last two years on Milwaukee's basketball team but hopes to gain a roster spot with an NFL franchise this season. Harris, who played football in high school and junior college, had an offer to play scholarship football at Arkansas State but chose to come to Milwaukee to get a shot at basketball. A pro basketball career may still happen, but Harris is working to realize some NFL dreams before pursuing a basketball career.

    At 6'7", 230 lb, Harris has a legitimate NFL body and athleticism. He is not unlike J'Nathan Bullock from Cleveland State, who tried out for a couple NFL teams after finishing his Viking basketball career. James Eayrs had folks in Milwaukee talking a possible football career, but that was probably because he fit the body of an offensive tackle. Probably the best comparison, hopefully, will turn out to be Antonio Gates, the San Diego Chargers tight end who played college basketball at Kent State. Harris is bigger than Gates was, three inches taller yet just as athletic.

    This isn't just an athlete hoping to get a glimpse; Harris has already had a workout with Ryan Kessenich, the midwest scout for the Kansas City Chiefs. Ron Thomson, Milwaukee's Strength and Conditioning coach, has been in football for many years and was in the same line of work at SMU in the 1980's "Pony Express" days.

    Here is a workout video for Harris, courtesy of Ryan Ellerbusch from Midwest Ballers:



    Harris has signed with an agent, Matthew Pope of Exclusive Sports Group. Exclusive SG represents 60 athletes in football and basketball, including Boo Davis, Mike Green, Matt Howard, and Kroy Biermann. They represent retired athletes Korey Hall and AJ Graves. The company also represents college basketball coaches Todd Lickliter, Cuonzo Martin, and Matt Painter.

    We'll follow this story as it continues to unfold.