DETROIT — As a few members of the media surrounded Jaylen Kelly-Powell at the conclusion of the Sound Mind Sound Body football camp two weeks ago, a friend nearby noticed and made his way over toward Kelly-Powell and the small contingent of reporters.
“Jaylen, you didn’t tell them you were going blue?” he shouted from behind Kelly-Powell as he was in the middle of an answer to a question. Kelly-Powell, the star safety from nearby powerhouse Cass Tech High School, cracked a faint smile and paused briefly, then continued with his answer.
This happens often at this types of events, especially ones that take place close to a nearby college. Detroit is just 45 minutes from Ann Arbor, Michigan and, as to be expected, there was a lot of maize and blue at Sound Mind Sound Body.
And even though Michigan continues to be the favorite in the eyes of many recruitniks for Kelly-Powell’s services, the four-star prospect says he has no leader at this point in his recruitment.
“Not yet,” Kelly-Powell said. “Right now, I’m just going to take a couple visits, go back home with my family and coaches and just go from there.”
Kelly-Powell is the nation’s 20th-ranked safety and the No. 250 overall player in the 2017 class, according to 247Sports’ composite ratings. He wouldn’t necessarily be considered Ohio State’s top target at the position — the Buckeyes are going hard after the No. 1 safety in the country, Jeffrey Okudah — but he’s certainly a player that’s on the radar and he already has a scholarship offer.
Ohio State does already have Isaiah Pryor committed in the 2017 class, but there’s a real possibility he winds up as a linebacker when it’s all said and done. If the Buckeyes don’t land Okudah, Kelly-Powell could end up being a player they go hard after should they deem it necessary to add a pure safety in this class. Ohio State’s 2017 class size is something that has been much discussed, so that’s something important to keep in mind here, as well.
Despite all of that, Kelly-Powell says he has a great relationship with the Buckeyes’ coaching staff and that they are in constant contact. Kelly-Powell is especially close with Ohio State assistant coach Kerry Coombs.
“Coach Coombs, that’s my guy,” Kelly-Powell said of Ohio State’s cornerbacks coach and main recruiter in the state of Michigan. “He’s a real hyper guy, I’m a real hyper guy. I like a coach that is really interactive in drills. I like learning like that: the hard way. I need to see somebody else do it and he actually gets out there and does it.”
As things stand right now, the 247Sports crystal ball has 94 percent of the predictions for Kelly-Powell in favor of Michigan. The other 6 percent is for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are a longshot here, but the staff’s constant contact with Kelly-Powell means this recruitment may not be over just yet.
There’s also a good chance Kelly-Powell opts to play college football with his cousin, four-star defensive back Ambry Thomas, who also happens to be high on Michigan’s wish list for the 2017 class. Due to tight scholarship numbers, Ohio State probably can’t realistically take both unless there are drastic changes with their current group commits and targets.
It’s certainly an uphill battle for the Buckeyes against their rival to land Kelly-Powell and the four-star prospect said right now he has no timetable for a decision.
“Right now, it’s going pretty well,” he said. “I’m just taking it day by day and that’s the only way you can take it.”
