By Eric Stock

WICHITA, Kan. – Store managers can expect a run on Cincinnati Bengals gear in what is otherwise Kansas City Chiefs country, now that hometown hero Davontae Harris has made it to the National Football League.

Harris, a First-Team FCS All-American defensive back in his senior season at Illinois State, was drafted in the fifth round Saturday by the Cincinnati Bengals.

PODCAST: Listen to WJBC’s interview with Harris.

“I was in the mall the other day and went to go buy myself a Bengals hat,” Harris said. “I walk in and the (store employee) already knew who I was and told me that a bunch of people had come in already and they want me to do a signing for them.”

Harris said he hopes making it into the NFL gives him the opportunity to help others fulfill their dreams.

“That’s kind of cool,” Harris said. “It’s a different experience and I just really want to, for the most part, use that platform to reach out to kids and show them that they can get to where I am at as well.”

Harris grew up in humble beginnings in Wichita and only started playing football his sophomore year in high school.

Harris was projected as a late-round draft pick, but as the draft rolled into Saturday, he was starting to wonder if his name would be called.

He was watching the draft with family and friends when he seemingly gave up early into round five.

“So I literally grabbed my phone put in on the counter in front of my entire family and I walked downstairs,” Harris recalled. “About a minute and a half later, there’s a call going and my family is yelling at me to get me to run upstairs.”

After what he called the longest wait of his life, his new opportunity to play pro football finally sunk in.

“We had a draft party that night with my family and friends and we all got together and had a really good time, I just think the day as a whole allowed me to let it sink in that I was actually a Bengal,” Harris said.

He said he doesn’t know yet when plans the Bengals have for him as he gets ready for mini camp later this week.

Harris is the 16th Redbird player selected in the NFL Draft and the fourth since 2014, joining Nate Palmer, Shelby Harris, and James O’Shaughnessy.

Three of Harris’ teammates were invited to preseason camps. Defensive lineman Dalton Keene reportedly signed with the Los Angeles Rams, receiver Christian Gibbs was invited to the Cleveland Browns mini camp. Defensive end James Graham got mini camp invites from the Bengals and Browns.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].