Former Wichita East standout Xavier Kelly to leave Clemson football team, transfer
After playing on the roster of two national championship teams, Wichita East High School alumnus Xavier Kelly has announced he will enter the NCAA’s transfer portal.
A defensive end, Kelly was redshirted as Clemson won its first college football title since 1981 in 2016. Two years later, Clemson won it all again, with Kelly then a redshirt sophomore. He finishes his Clemson career with 23 tackles in 30 games played with 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
“I would like to thank my coaches, teammates and the entire Clemson family for all of the love and support they have provided me over the last few years,” Kelly wrote on Twitter Saturday. “I will hold onto all the memories that were shared with my brothers during my time at Clemson University.”
At Wichita East, Kelly worked his way into the Top 150 players in the recruiting class of 2016. He came in at No. 84, according to 247 Sports. He was No. 1 in Kansas and the No. 8 defensive end in the country, per 247 Sports.
He earned offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia and several other national championship contenders. His signing with Clemson was Kansas’ first since Jason Gamble in 1996. Olathe North’s Isaiah Simmons followed a short time later.
As a senior, Kelly had 72 tackles, including 12 going for losses and 3.5 sacks, in just nine games. Kelly was also a standout basketball player for the Blue Aces. A three-year starter, he started in the 2015 Class 6A state championship game.
“I have never shied away from hard work or a challenge,” Kelly tweeted. “My time at Clemson was a challenge that I happily accepted, and I worked hard to be the best defensive lineman, teammate and student I could be.”