The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/787035
MARCH 2017 THE WOLVERINE 61 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE MEASURABLES • At Nike's The Opening Chicago Regional in 2016, Kelly-Powell ran a 4.66-second 40- yard dash and ran a 4.35-second 20-yard shuttle. He also recorded a 33.6-inch ver- tical jump and a 33.0-foot power throw. Kelly-Powell earned a Nike+ Football Rat- ing of 85.13 as a result of that testing. • Has posted a maximum bench press of 275 pounds. STATISTICS • As a senior, Kelly-Powell recorded 62 tackles, 26 pass breakups and two inter- ceptions. He also carried the ball 58 times for 647 yards (11.16 yards a rush) and eight touchdowns, and had 119 receiving yards with three touchdowns through the air. • In his junior season, he made 62 tackles, had three interceptions and scored three touchdowns, while he also ran for 145 yards as a running back. • During his sophomore season, Kelly- Powell recorded 23 tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery. HONORS • Helped Cass Tech to a 14-0 season and Division I state cham- pionship his senior year. • Named first-team USA Today All-USA Michigan as a senior. • Selected for the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press Dream Teams. • Chosen to the Division 1-2 Associated Press All-State first team as a senior and was an honorable mention pick as a junior. • Came in at No. 4 on the Detroit News Blue Chip List and Detroit Free Press Fab 50, both rankings of the state's top senior football players. • Named the No. 3 recruit in the state on The Lansing Journal's Catch 22 list. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Attended the Rivals Camp Series Cleveland in 2015. • Attended Nike's The Opening Chicago regional camp in 2015 and 2016. • Was invited to Nike's The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore., in 2016. • Participated in the Under Armour All-America game on Jan. 1, 2017, but did not record a stat. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan Nov. 14, 2016, after being consid- ered a U-M lean throughout his entire recruitment. • Took official visits to Michigan (Dec. 9), Nebraska (Sept. 2), Oregon (Sept. 9), Virginia Tech (Nov. 11) and Wisconsin (Oct. 14). • Head coach Jim Harbaugh, former running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley, defensive coordinator Don Brown, and sec- ondary coaches Brian Smith and Mike Zordich were all heavily involved in recruiting Kelly-Powell. • Is already enrolled at Michigan. NOTABLE • Born March 10, 1998. • Finished with a 3.9 grade-point average at Cass Tech. • Was on the state champion 4x100- meter relay team with Donovan Peoples- Jones in June 2016. 2017 PROJECTION Depending on how Kelly-Powell is used in 2017 will determine his projection. He has the ability to play both safety and viper in Don Brown's system and could get a look at both as an early enrollee. Kelly-Pow- ell may redshirt as a freshman, but if some of the other young depth at safety or viper isn't up to what Brown wants, Kelly-Powell is intelligent enough to pick it up in a hurry. THEY SAID IT West Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer Head Coach Jack Daniels During Under Ar- mour All-America Game Practices: "He's been covering the slots for us and then today he got some work on the outside receivers. He can play a little corner, but I think he's a natural guy covering the slots. "He's quick and athletic in open space, and I can tell he's a physical player even though tackling has been limited. He likes that contact. He's smart, and I think he's going to be a great player for Michigan." Rivals.com Midwest Recruiting Analyst Josh Helmholdt: "Jaylen is a really well-rounded defensive back. He's a kid who we list as a safety but could play corner, and that's definitely a plus for him. Versatility in the defensive backfield is a strength of his. "He's probably a little undersized for the safety position and maybe not as explosive as you want for a cornerback, but I wouldn't call him a tweener of those positions. He's just not quite ideal for either one. He can play both adequately at the Big Ten level. I expect him to find a role for himself at Michigan." Defensive Backs Coach Brian Smith: "Jaylen had a very good high school career, and he is one of those guys that can come in right away and contribute. He's got good technique, and he is especially good in man-to-man. He's a blitzer and a hard-worker, and he's really a great kid. He is very serious and a great student, and I love his attitude and approach to the game. He is going to be something special in the years to come. "His dad is a coach; he's been around the game and has been all over the country working with different DB coaches, learning different techniques. Jaylen is a football junkie — that kind of kid. He fits our scheme well because he played a lot of man-to- man in high school so he's done it before. He fits into what we do very well." JAYLEN KELLY-POWELL SAFETY 6-0 • 175 CASS TECH H.S. DETROIT, MI RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 34 8 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 278 25 7 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 156 19 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 262 18 6 DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH BRIAN SMITH "He's a blitzer and a hard-worker, and he's really a great kid. … He is going to be something special in the years to come." Kelly-Powell played all over the field on defense as a senior, while also contributing on offense as a running back capable of rushing and receiving. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS