Xavier Kelly to Clemson
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One week after landing one of the nation's top linebacker recruits, Clemson secured one of the top defensive end prospects in the country when four-star lineman Xavier Kelly publicly declared for the Tigers Friday afternoon, as expected.
"They have a family environment, and I really love that about them," Kelly told ESPN. "I just have a good vibe with all the coaches. They recruited me very hard and have a big-time program in the ACC. That's one of the higher conferences.
"I like how coach Dabo Swinney has never offered a juco player, so I don't have to worry about any juco players coming in and replacing me. He's really loyal to his players. He treats his players well, and you can tell he's a good person outside of football. So he's going to develop you not only as a player but a person as well."
The 6-foot-4, 257-pound Kelly out of Wichita (Kan.), picked the Tigers over seven previously-announced finalists, including Alabama, Florida State, UGA and Michigan. Kelly visited numerous college campuses throughout the spring and into the summer but saw just two campuses twice - UGA and Clemson.
"That (Clemson) was the best visit I went on," said Kelly. "On visits we ranked each thing 1 out of 10, with 10 being the best. Academics was a 10. Campus as a 10, the stadium. There were a lot of 10s. So I felt like that was the perfect fit."
Rivals.com bills Kelly as the 11th-best strongside end recruit in the nation, 150th overall regardless of position and the second overall regardless of position in the state of Kansas.
Kelly becomes the 12th verbal commit in Clemson's 2016 recruiting class, the eighth with at least a four-star rating or better. With his pledge, the Tigers also now boast the second-highest star rating average in the country, second only to Ohio State.
Kelly is the first defensive front man to cast his lot with the Tigers in the 2016 recruiting cycle.
**** Rivals.com Video: More on Kelly's commitment to Clemson ****
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