Lammey: Shelby Harris impresses enough to make Broncos final 53

The Denver Broncos have a new-look defensive front. After struggling to stop the run in 2016, the club made a concentrated effort to add talent to the defensive line, with additions like defensive tackle Domata Peko and defensive end Zach Kerr drawing some headlines early this offseason.

But the Broncos had already added a potential contributor up front with a futures contract back in January. The signing of defensive end Shelby Harris went under the radar, but he’s made so many plays this preseason that everyone’s taking notice.

Harris led the team with five tackles Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers — four of which came behind the line of scrimmage and three credited as sacks.

There’s no doubt that Harris shined in the “dress rehearsal” for the regular season.

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph praised Harris after the game, saying, “Shelby’s been solid, from OTAs to training camp to the last three games.”

“He’s played really well. He had two turnovers last week in San Fran and two sacks tonight, so Shelby is an ascending player right now.”

How did the Broncos find this guy, and did Harris do enough to make the 53-man roster? Let’s take a look.

Rocky road through college

A standout prep player in Wisconsin, Harris was considered a top-20 defensive end in the nation by recruiting services. He committed to play for the University of Wisconsin, redshirting freshman season in 2009, where he didn’t do much other than play on the scout team defense.

He was suspended by the Badgers in 2010 for a violation of team rules, which ended up being just the first time Harris would be disciplined by his college team.

Harris continued his college career at Illinois State, getting better each season and going from Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2010 to First Team All-MVFC in 2012.

But in March 2013, Harris was dismissed from the Redbirds for conduct detrimental to the team and would miss his senior year of college football.

It would be some time before Harris saw the field again.

Late-round talent

The Oakland Raiders selected Harris in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft. An undersized college defensive tackle, the plan was for him to be a pass-rushing specialist from the inside on a part-time basis.

Injuries and inconsistencies kept Harris bouncing on and off the roster from the Raiders practice squad until the club let him go in 2016.

The New York Jets picked up Harris, but he didn’t last long there either. Then the Dallas Cowboys put Harris on their practice squad, but he was only there less than a month.

But Shelby stayed in Oakland long enough to make an impression upon Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who was with the Raiders organization at the time.

“Shelby has been doing a good job. I was with Shelby in Oakland, and he’s from Illinois State where I played of course,” Woods said, with a laugh, last week, “so that gives him a little nod.”

“He’s doing a good job. You see him each and every day he’s getting better. He had a huge game last week just finishing and making plays, but right now he’s definitely put himself in a good position.”

The Broncos picked up Harris with little fanfare, and he’s done the work required to go from an afterthought to winning a job with this team.

Harris has seen his football career almost taken away from him — twice. He’s bounced around the league and has to know that he’s running out of chances to prove himself in the NFL.

With his performancethis preseason, Harris is proving that he belongs and might have done enough to win a spot on the 53-man roster.

Follow @CecilLammey