The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
T he 2015 class in the state of Michi‑ gan is one that has had some es‑ tablished stars for a few years now. Detroit Cass Tech running back Mike Weber broke out during his sopho‑ more season, as did his fellow U‑M pledge Alex Malzone, who took over as the starting quarterback for Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice late in that season. One prospect has been on the radar even longer — since his freshman season — and has finally picked up a Michigan offer. Oak Park (Mich.) High 2015 stand‑ out John Kelly is a 5‑9, 191‑pound three‑star prospect who is ranked as the No. 31 athlete nationally by Ri‑ vals.com. He burst onto the scene during his first year of high school football, and although he favored Michigan as a youngster, at one point it didn't look like a U‑M offer would come. Michigan State and Minnesota did enter the mix, and emerged as favorites. By the time U‑M offered Oct. 27, it may have appeared that the win‑ dow of opportunity to land Kelly had passed, but he didn't see things that way. "I feel like having the opportunity to play for U‑M can open so many doors for me even if I don't choose the school," Kelly said. "I'm just all around happy, and my family is very proud of me. I just love making peo‑ ple proud. I'm considering all the schools that have interest in me. "Michigan has players up there that I'm already close with, so that helps them a lot. "I've been recruited by Michi‑ gan since I was a freshman, and for the offer to finally come, it still felt great." Kelly is being recruited by Michi‑ gan primarily as a safety prospect, though some other schools consider him primarily a ball carrier. While he doesn't have the true man‑cov‑ erage abilities that elite high school defensive backs possess, he's a tough player with a knack for big hits and finding the ball. Offensively this season, he had MICHIGAN RECRUITING Wolverines Offer Local Athlete In late October, Michigan offered John Kelly, a 5‑9, 191‑pound senior from Oak Park, Mich., who is ranked as a three‑star pros‑ pect and the No. 31 athlete nationally by Rivals.com. PHOTO BY TIM SULLIVAN