Kelly tweaks official visit plan

Oak Park, Mich., athlete John Kelly had three official visits scheduled for the month of January, but the order of those visits has changed.

"I'm going to Tennessee next week (Jan. 16)," Kelly said. "Tennessee is definitely a top school for me. I have a really close relationship with the running backs coach there and also coach (Butch) Jones, the head coach.

"This will be my first time getting on campus, so it should be a really good experience. My mom has really wanted to get down there, so it's going to be good for her as well."

Michigan State was originally slated to receive Kelly's official visit on Jan. 16, but it worked better with his mother's work schedule to visit Tennessee that weekend. Kelly still plans to take that official visit to Michigan State, and it likely will be the weekend he originally planned to visit Tennessee.

"I am trying to get there on the 30th," Kelly said. "I just hit Coach (Harlon) Barnett up the other day and we were talking about how he got the new (defensive coordinator) job. Coach Barnett moving in was definitely a plus for me. I talked to Coach (Pat) Narduzzi a lot, but me and Coach Barnett have a really good relationship."

A previously planned official visit to Minnesota remains unchanged for the weekend of Jan. 23.

"My dad and my mom are going to be up there with me," Kelly said. "Everything is always good with Minnesota. Coach (Jerry) Kill has been recruiting (Oak Park head) coach (Greg) Carter's kids forever, so they have a really close relationship."

Michigan is the fourth school in Kelly's top group, and plans are also being made to officially visit Ann Arbor.

"I'm actually trying to figure out when I am going to go to Michigan," Kelly said. "I am going to go there probably during the week, but I'm going to go to Michigan for sure. I've got to meet Coach (Jim) Harbaugh."

Kelly said he does not have a leader or a specific order to his top four heading into his January official visits.

If there is a fifth school that could sneak into Kelly's recruitment late, Pittsburgh may be a candidate. Narduzzi was one of Kelly's primary recruiters at Michigan State, and has reached out since taking over as the Panther's head coach.

"I heard from Coach Narduzzi after their bowl game," Kelly said. "They've got Avonte Maddox and he was one of my boys when he played at (Detroit) King. I don't rule them out completely, but if me and Coach Narduzzi continue to have contact I'll definitely look into it.

No matter which schools ultimately do receive official visits, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Kelly plans to announce his college selection on National Signing Day.