Meeting coaches crucial for Kelley
Kyle Kelley remains committed to Arizona and his visit there the weekend of Jan. 13 will be crucial as the four-star defensive end from Irvine (Calif.) Woodbridge reaches his final decision.
Kelley said he wants to meet Arizona's new coaching staff and that will determine whether he sticks with the Wildcats or switches to either Colorado or Oklahoma, the two other contenders in his recruitment.
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"They will have a defensive coordinator by then and I'll be able to see which position they'll play me," Kelley said Friday at the Cal State Game. "I'll see how their defense is going to be and I'm just waiting for that and then I'll make my decision."
Arizona's new coaching staff has talked about playing Kelley as an outside linebacker that blitzes. The four-star is fine with that role as long as he gets to rush the passer, one of the biggest strengths in his game.
Getting to know the coaches a little better is also important.
"They kind of think of me as an outside linebacker that blitzes," Kelley said. "I'm fine with it as long as I get to rush the passer. That's what I love doing. I'm fine standing up or with my hand down as long as I get to rush the passer.
"Meeting the coaches is pretty important because I want to see how they are as coaches and their goals and I want to see how they are as people."
Kelley, who finished with 87 tackles and 22 sacks in his senior season, visited Oklahoma and Colorado in back-to-back weekends and both are still under consideration.
Even though he has many more offers, the Southern California standout said he's pretty much narrowed his list to those three schools and his trip to Arizona is vital in determining where he's going to school.
"It's still up to the coaches really," Kelley said. "I love Arizona's campus the most, that's one of the reasons why I committed there, and now I just want to meet the coaches and get a better feel for them."
Rivals.com rates Kelley as the No. 13 strong-side defensive end, the No. 205 prospect in the 2012 class and No. 28 in the California state rankings.