Glance at David Gilreath's measurements. It makes you rub your eyes, or check if something is wrong with your glasses or contact lenses.

Gilreath is listed at 5-11 and 165 pounds. Wisconsin's kickers weigh more than the Badgers' do-it-all player.

"He was excited last year,'' Badgers coach Bret Bielema said. "I think he put on about eight pounds. But, with his body weight, that gave him a 10 percent gain. He is small in stature but is very, very quick."

Gilreath admits to waging an incessant war with his metabolism, consuming as much food as possible to gain weight to help him on the field.

"I eat as much as I can," he said. "Whether it's McDonald's or red meat. I try to get something in my system all the time. The big thing is breakfast. I try to get up early and eat something."

Like many college players, Gilreath dreams of playing in the NFL. And he looks at wide receivers in the league and doesn't see many as light as he is. He mentioned Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson, who is listed at 175, as an exception. As far as other role models, Gilreath cited Jerry Rice's work ethic and Isaac Bruce's toughness as traits he wouldn't mind having.

Here's the thing: While Gilreath might only weigh as much as Pat Williams' left leg, he's very effective.

Gilreath, who's from New Hope and graduated from Armstrong, burns past defenders as well as he burns up calories. And he's had a hand in Wisconsin's attempts to salvage some pride in an offseason as the Badgers (5-5 overall, 2-5 in the Big Ten) head into Saturday's game against the Gophers.

He has 22 catches for 329 yards as a receiver. He averages 21.4 yards a kickoff return and 6.9 yards as a punt returner.

But there's more.

Bielema also has used Gilreath as a running back and has watched the true sophomore flourish. He has 22 carries for 290 yards and two touchdowns, including a touchdown run of 90 yards against Indiana last week that is the second-longest run in school history.

Gilreath rushed for 168 yards last week, the most by a non-running back in school history.

So Gilreath is the Badgers' Slash -- able to beat opponents from several positions on the field. His 157.3 all-purpose yards per game rank fifth in the Big Ten.

And he could have been doing it for the Gophers. Gilreath committed to play for Minnesota but backed off and entertained other offers after Glen Mason left the program following the 2006 season.

"David kind of came as a surprise to us," Bielema said. "He popped up his senior year when he came over to our camp. We had seen him on film but did not have a lot of good film out there. He made an impression on us as a staff. His hands, his ability, his speed. And he's also a great personality. We made an offer to him and it was kind of a unique recruiting situation."

It certainly was to Gilreath, who was looking forward to playing for Mason and working with receivers coach Luke Tressel.

"I didn't know him at all," Gilreath said of Brewster. "I knew he was a great recruiter but I didn't know how he was as a coach.''

While he wonders what it would have been like to be a Gopher, Gilreath said: "I feel like this is the best fit for me."

Last year, Gilreath worked over the team he could have played for, racking up 234 all-purpose yards against the Gophers during the game at the Dome. He looms large in this weekend's game as the Gophers try to avoid a three-game losing streak and the Badgers attempt to become bowl-eligible.

That's right. The lightest man on the field could have the biggest impact.

"He might be 170 wet, but he really does try," Bielema said. "I see him every day when he's down at the training table trying to eat, trying to gain more weight.

"There's just not a lot to him."

But don't let looks fool you.