A player that recruitniks need to keep an eye on this fall is Shorecrest (Seattle, Wa.) S/WR Aaron Kelly. He’s got he size and athleticism to be a stallwart this year, but he recently told Northwest Elite Index he plans to lead by example.
“I was voted as a team captain so that’s something that I am totally honored by, but it means my teammates and coaches are looking at me as a leader,” Kelly told NEI recently. “I take that seriously and know I need to step up my game this fall.
“I lead by example, but I definitely don’t have a problem speaking up when it needs to happen and I like showing the younger guys how to do things or help them in any way that I can.”
Shorecrest isn’t known as a football power, but Kelly said he hopes to be part of that change this coming fall.
“We definitely need to win more games and this year I think we might have the team to do that,” Kelly noted. “We have always had a pretty good defense and I think this year our offense will be a lot better and that should help us stay in games and if that happens, you never know, you can win some of those games.”
As a starter the past two seasons, Kelly has made his mark more on the defensive side of the ball, totaling 35 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore while notching more tackles (40) but fewer picks (one) as a junior.
“I will play both ways, but I’m more of a defensive guy and I think that’s where most college coaches see me,” Kelly said.
The schools recruiting Kelly most appear to be Portland State, Idaho and Eastern Washington, but none have come forward with offers to this point.
“I talked to them during the spring, but it wasn’t anything really serious,” Kelly admitted. “I think a lot of schools want to see what I do the first few games of my season (this fall) before they will get serious about me, so really all I can do is go out and keep improving and getting ready for my season and then see where things go from there.”
Kelly is a stellar athlete — he finished fourth in the state in the 110 high hurdles, posting a time of 15.14 — and, at 6’2″ and weighing in at 185 pounds, he’s got a solid frame and the instincts and leadership skills to be a real asset at the next level. Because of Shorecrest’s lack of success, he has remained a bit of an unknown to this point, but that should change with a big senior season.
