Virginia Tech football fans got a welcome surprise, as 4-star athlete Cam’Ron Kelly announced his decision to play college football as a Hokie. Kelly, a member of the Class of 2019, hails from Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, and was ranked as the fifth-best recruit in the state, according to 247Sports.
110% COMMITTED!!! pic.twitter.com/3kaEtcxrA5
— Cam’Ron Kelly (@CamRonJKelly) June 7, 2018
The Hokies keep premier athlete in state
The news of Kelly’s commitment is a big boost for third-year head coach Justin Fuente as well as Hokie fans across the state, who have seen several big-name recruits spurn their school for other programs. Just three weeks ago, 4-star running back and Virginia native Devyn Ford announced his pledge to Penn State. Back in 2014, defensive end Clelin Ferrell, a native of Richmond, Va. and another top-100 recruit, chose ACC foe Clemson over the Hokies.
But it would not be so for Kelly, who had dozens of offers from Power 5 programs, including several of Virginia Tech’s conference and regional competitors such as Virginia, Penn State, and Clemson. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Kelly has room to grow, but is an athletic freak who can play on both sides of the ball. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 5 prospect in Virginia, 13th among athletes, and 158th among all players in the 2019 recruiting class. The recruiting website also gives Kelly a .9319 composite rating.
Off the charts athleticism and versatility
The reigning All-Tidewater Player of the Year, Kelly has played as quarterback, running back, receiver, and defensive back, while also handling punt and kick return duties. A year ago as a junior, he compiled 1,661 yards and 13 touchdowns. Early prognostications indicate that Kelly is expected to play as a defensive back in Blacksburg, but that remains to be seen. His recruitment to the Hokies was thanks in large part to VT running backs coach Zohn Burden, who focuses in the Tidewater region. Burden is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
While Kelly has a long time in front of him to develop his skillset, he will certainly need to expand upon his 190-lb. frame in the weight room if he wants to compete against the ACC’s best. But the raw skills are there, and Fuente, along with defensive coordinator Bud Foster, should be able to find Kelly a niche upon arriving to campus in the fall of 2019. Above all, Hokie fans should rejoice knowing that they can and will compete with other top-tier programs in the region when it comes to recruiting elite talent. The future for Coach Fuente and company is very bright in the New River Valley.
