Meanwhile, the University of Illinois was surrendering 223 rushing yards per game, worst in the Big Ten Conference.

The correlation was not lost on Illini coach Ron Turner, who welcomed Harrison's signature Wednesday to a national letter of intent.

"Justin is the run-support kind of safety we need," Turner said. "If you're going to stop the run, you'd better have a safety who will come up and hit people. We believe Justin can do that. He's an extremely athletic kid."

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Harrison had 21 tackles for loss, caused four fumbles, intercepted three passes and blocked two punts as a senior, helping BHS return to the Class 6A state championship game.

Harrison also ran for 1,077 yards and 24 touchdowns as a fullback while earning all-state honors from the Chicago Sun-Times, Champaign News-Gazette and Illinois High School Coaches Association.

Turner marveled at how Harrison "never came off the field," but was most impressed by his ability to punish ballcarriers.

"Justin is a hitter," Turner said. "When he hits you, you know you've been hit. You go the other way."

Harrison, who signed his letter Wednesday afternoon in the BHS library, is hoping to help Illinois change directions following a 1-11 record and 0-8 Big Ten mark.

He made an oral commitment to the Illini in August, and said he never wavered during Illinois' difficult season.

"I knew I committed to a good program," said Harrison, who was recruited by most of the Big Ten schools as well as Northern Illinois and San Jose State. "They've had off years in the past and they've always bounced back.

"Illinois was always successful when I was a kid. I think it will be a great story to know that I helped them come back to where they were when I was growing up. The record last year ... that was last year. We know we have a lot of work to do, and we know we have the people to do it."

Harrison played safety as a junior at BHS, but moved to linebacker this season to help fill a void.

He is eager to return to safety in college, calling it "a great fit for me."

"It's a free-roaming position," Harrison said. "I've always been a hitter, so it's great going to Illinois knowing I'll be able to do the same things I did at Bloomington.

"Coach Turner is going to put the best athletes out there. I'm going to go in the first day working as hard as I can, making plays I've been making since I've been playing football. I think if I do that, I'll have enough confidence and enough talent where I can hopefully get on the field."

Harrison was among five defensive backs signed by Illinois, and Turner said cornerback and safety "typically are positions guys can play a little earlier."

Harrison realizes "nothing is going to be handed to me, that I have to work for everything." BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer is confident he will.

"He brings a phenomenal competitiveness, he's used to winning and he has a great work ethic," Schmelzer said. "I've been at Bloomington 22 years, and I've seen some great football players come through. To me, Justin is the best natural football player we've had."