Xavier Kelly

First Clemson signee from the state of Kansas since Jason Gamble in 1996…ranked as consensus top 150 player in the nation…ranked No. 84 overall player by 247 Sports…they rank him as No. 1 player in Kansas and eighth best DE in the nation…listed as No. 113 player overall by Scout.com and No. 154 by both ESPN and Prep Star…Rivals has Kelly No. 141 overall and second best player in Kansas…ESPN also has him as No. 1 player in Kansas…played in the U.S. Army All-American game…had 72 tackles as a senior, 39 first hits and 33 assists in just nine games…had 12 tackles for loss, including 8.5 sacks…also an outstanding basketball player, a three-year starter and double figure scorer all three years…started at center on the East High School 6A State Championship team of 2015…honorable mention all-state as a basketball player…played his high school football for Bill Coffman…selected Clemson over offers from Georgia, Oklahoma, Kansas State and Alabama…recruited by Brent Venables and Marion Hobby.

Mickey Plyler on Kelly: It says a lot that the staff knew they were limited in the number of defensive ends it could sign and also the fact that they really didn't find only in the Carolinas or Georgia. So Venables went on a national search and found this terrific prospect in Kansas. Kelly is extremely athletic. I think he is perhaps the most underrated prospect in this class. Lawrence and the wide outs and the linebackers steal the show, but Kelly is a great prospect. He has a great frame and explosiveness. It wouldn't surprise me to see him play as a true freshman. He is athletic like Austin Bryant and Clein Ferrell from the previous class.

Reminds Plyler of: Clelin Ferrell

Clemson offered on 3/25/15. Kelly decommitted from Kansas State on 3/21/15. Kelly committed to Clemson on 7/24/15 during a live ESPN RecruitingNation webcast.