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Tnphil
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« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2015, 10:55:36 EST » |
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Oak Park (Mich.) High athlete John Kelly verbally committed to Tennessee on Thursday during an announcement at his school
Kelly chose the SEC program over his other finalists Michigan, Michigan State and Minnesota.
Ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 38 athlete recruit and No. 5 prospect overall in the state of Michigan, the 5-foot-10, 203-pound Kelly will play running back in Knoxville.
“They’re getting a phenomenal athlete with a great work ethic,” Kelly’s position coach at Oak Park and personal trainer Darryl Graham said. “Very determined and not only that, they’re getting a great kid overall. Great personality, great sense of humor, he can interact with anyone, but most importantly his great work ethic and determination to be the best.”
Recruited by Robert Gillespie and Steve Stripling, Kelly becomes commit No. 28 for Tennessee in the class-of-2015.
As a senior, Kelly scored 25 touchdowns as a running back, receiver and kick/punt return man.
“His game play is pretty unique,” Graham said. “For Tennessee they don’t have too many backs that do some of the things that John does. He’s very elusive. I think that’s going to be unique, especially for the SEC where they have bigger and faster backs. With his change of direction, speed and balance, it’s going to be unique in the SEC. When I watch a lot of kids’ film, his balance is amazing and his vision is special.”
Kelly took his official visit to Tennessee this past weekend.
“I do believe that current depth chart at running back was a big factor,” Graham said. “The fact that the coaches, once they saw his film it’s been 110 miles per hours after him and his family, showing him and them a lot of attention, meeting with his mom on the regular and reaching out to his father was really special with his father being in Minnesota. Just those guys reaching out to him and making him feel comfortable and getting to know them.
“Just getting around the coaching staff and the players coming in in the current class, John mentioned the guys are excited and want to win and John has built relationships with the incoming class all across the country.”
Kelly was also excited about Tennessee’s broadcasting and communication school.
“His mom felt he would grow into a man being away somewhere like Tennessee,” Graham said. “She said that even before seeing the school.”
Kelly did have future official visits scheduled with Minnesota this weekend and Michigan the following weekend. Graham said those are canceled.
“He’s not going nowhere else,” Graham stated.
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