Elite 2024 WR Zion Kearney discusses early stages of recruitment

PEARLAND, Texas — Fort Bend (Texas) Hightower wide receiver Zion Kearney has been on a huge rise this calendar year as 19 of his 21 offers have come since the turn of the new year including nine from Power Five programs.

Kearney's rise has been in part to his offseason improvements as a big-bodied outside receiver that combines physicality on the boundary with speed.

"I feel like I got better at everything, especially with releases and got better with my speed," Kearney said. "That benefits the team."

His blowup during the summer saw 10 offers come his way in a span of three days which excited Kearney for his future,

"It was pretty nice, it was exciting," he said. "It kind of blew up out of nowhere, but I love it."

Texas A&M, Kansas and Baylor have been the programs in touch with Kearney the most heading into the fall.

At Texas A&M, wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig has stayed in constant contact which has the Aggies sitting very nicely in his recruitment moving forward.

"Coach Craig, that's my guy," he said. "He's cool, he treats me like family. Everybody there is cool, they have a vibe. Even though everybody at the pool party was older, everybody was really cool. No matter what they will treat you like family."

At Kansas, it's been an all-in effort from multiple staffers to get Kearney to Lawrence.

"It's been a different variety of coaches talking to me but I feel like they have a good vibe," he said.

Baylor just recently offered ahead of Sept. 1, but Kearney already has a good sense of familiarity with the program.

"I just got in contact with them and got the offer," he said. "My coaches have been talking to them. One of my coaches just had his son go to the league from Baylor, Jalen Pitre, so I've liked watching them."

As for upcoming visits, Kearney has two in-state visits he knows for sure he wants to get out to.

"I might end up at UTSA and A&M," he said. "Those two for sure, I don't know after that."

At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Kearney has not yet been rated by Rivals.