4-Star DE Kelly says UGA will be his first stop

Four-star defensive end prospect Xavier Kelly has announced that the University of Georgia will be his first official visit this fall.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder, who will be at the “Dawg Night” recruit camp in Athens on Saturday, has the Bulldogs listed among eight schools he is considering, but Alabama is widely considered to be the favorite to land the speedy defender from Wichita, Kansas.

Clemson, Florida State, Kansas State, Michigan, Oregon and TCU make up the rest of his list.

Kelly told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Georgia is getting an official visit this fall. They will be my first official visit for sure. That’s already done.”

While Alabama may be considered the front-runner, Kelly said, “Georgia will make this a hard decision for me at the end. They just need to continue to have a great football program that stresses academics. They just need to continue to recruit me the way they have.”

Kelly also said that he likes the way the UGA depth chart is currently set up because it would give him an opportunity to play right away.

“Georgia is recruiting me to play the ‘Buck’ position. I’ll be an outside linebacker and defensive end moving around a lot. I like that a lot.” Kelly plays defensive end in high school, but said, “Outside linebacker gives me a chance to play in space. I would prefer to play the ‘Buck’ so I can use my size and speed all over the field.”

Speed is something Kelly possesses in abundance. He says he clocked a 4.55 in the 40-yard-dash at one of the qualifiers for “The Opening,” Nike’s annual recruit camp in Oregon.

If Kelly were to sign with the Dawgs, it would be something of a homecoming for him, as he spent his freshman year at Windsor Forest in Savannah and still has a sizable number of family in that area.

Kelly, who will be at Clemson on Friday before the trip to Athens the next day for “Dawg Night,” said his official visit to UGA will take place the weekend of the Alabama game this October. He also said that he hopes to have made his decision by December, then announce it at the Army All-American Game. That’s also the plan for another of Georgia’s major targets, Mecole Hardman, Jr. No doubt the Dawgs and their fans would love to hear two commitments to UGA during the annual high school all-star showcase.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports

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