TomVH: An Interview with QB Chad Kelly

Submitted by TomVH on

A narrow miss on KY QB Zeke Pike leaves Michigan looking for another quarterback in the class of 2012. While there are still some big name options left on the board, the Michigan staff is expanding their search and exploring all options. New York QB Chad Kelly (6'3", 205 lbs) is one of the prospects being evaluated. Kelly made a trip over to Ann Arbor this past Monday after taking in Purdue and Michigan State. Here's a look at his film and what he had to say about the trip.

TOM: Tell me about your trip, what did you get to see in Ann Arbor?

CHAD: We basically took a visit through everything, the academic center and the Big House.

TOM: Was that your first time in the Big House?

CHAD: Yeah it was. It was pretty sweet. I didn't realize how big it was and how if you yell it echoes within. It was just crazy how big it was, it was really special.

TOM: I know Michigan hasn't offered you yet, but what were the Michigan coaches talking to you about on the trip? Did they tell you what you need to do to earn an offer?

CHAD: Yeah, they said that I have to go to camp, but we will see after Friday. Coach Mallory will be at school on Friday to watch me throw. We talked to Coach Hoke and Coach Borges basically about the same thing.

TOM: So you might still camp then, depending on what happens Friday?

CHAD: I might be.

TOM: What was your overall impression of the trip? How did it compare to the other two visits, Purdue and MSU?

CHAD: My impression was that it was a great program and they're turning it around from the past few years. I think it compared pretty well and overall it was a good time.

TOM: For any fans that haven't seen you play, what do you think you do well and what are you working on?

CHAD: I think my strengths are keeping the play alive and looking downfield to throw. I'm working on better decision making and for people that might not think I'm a pro style quarterback I have a very strong arm.

TOM: I'm sure you get asked this in every interview, but I have to ask if your uncle, former NFL quarterback Jim Kelly, has been helping you through this process.

CHAD: Yeah he has. He's helped me with knowing where to go check out and everything. Sometimes I work out with the Bills and get insight on everything so that helps too.

TOM: As far as your overall recruiting process, do you have a timeline set or do you know when you want to make your decision?

CHAD: In the process I'm just checking everything out, trying to find the pros and cons of all these schools. I will make my decision before the season though.

TOM: What about narrowing down your list, do you plan on doing that soon?

CHAD: Yes, right after my visit to Alabama in early June.

Comments

cjm

May 5th, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^

Video reminds me a lot of Bellomy.  Has some deceptive speed, elusive, strong arm, takes snap under center and shotgun to name a few.

CincyBlue

May 5th, 2011 at 11:51 AM ^

Alabama, Michigan State, Clemson, Florida State, and some Big East schools and Michigan wants him to camp for an offer?

It seems the Michigan coaches are not 100% sold on this kid.  I'm betting he doesn't feel he needs to camp for an offer.  

TESOE

May 5th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^

Friday...if only because he seems luke warm to Michigan, has at least the arm of our other offers have(I have only seen this clip) and the pedigree.

This kid can run as well.  He doesn't have a Mallet arm to hit a 20 yard out maybe - but not too many guys do out of HS.

maizenbluenc

May 5th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^

Tom -

I realize we are also up against two more seasons with Denard, and three or four with Devin.

However, the past staffs have had a dedicated QB coach. Do you think it hurts our chances with QBs that our OC splits duties as QB coach? Even though in the practice videos, and on the sideline it seemed like Calvin McGee (at practices), and Rich were giving the QBs more guidance than Rod Smith, would a recruit see this as a developmental risk vs another top school where there is a dedicated QB coach?

Thanks as always for your posts.

NorthernBlue8

May 5th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^

So looks like we're gonna have Appleby, O'Connor, Kelly, Blackburn and probably a few others camp for offers.  Who do you guys like best out of the unoffered qb's?

Blaze09

May 5th, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^

About the Kellys and Ralph Wilson Stadium. Is it some magical place for them?

I want to wait til tomorrow and see if he comes out with an offer or not. I think once he's offered he will look at Michigan more seriously. Right now I think it's just a case of he views us as he knows he isn't our #1 option right now. Even then though, I think it's a longshot he comes here.

WestSider

May 5th, 2011 at 3:09 PM ^

exactly what the UM coaches think about him compared to the other potential recruits at QB. I get the sense that we do feel relatively secure with DRobinson, DGardner, and Bellomy for the near future. If Morris commits when the time comes that would be excellent. I'm just not feeling overly anxious about this, and ditto what cincyblue said and TomVH's impression.

turtleboy

May 5th, 2011 at 5:54 PM ^

This will be a small class for sure, which leaves me wondering: with recruits almost in a race to sign up which position do we pass on? The class is presumed to be an 18 kid class, but could swell to 20 with attrition. You can hear rumors of a 22 person goal to eventually scale back but maybe we don't even take a qb in this class at all. Other sites break down our greatest need at OL and DL numerically, but TE and RB are essential to the new offensive scheme. We seem to be a lock for anywhere from 4 to 6 D Linemen and 4 LB's, add on the 3 O Linemen we can count on and the 3 tight ends and the class starts filling up. 14 to 16 commits spoken for out of the gate and if the class stays at 18 then do we skip on a Safety? If Richardson and Wayne Morgan both commit do we only take 1 RB? If Greg Garmon commits and Brionte Dunn switches to 2A do we skip taking a WR or stick with 3 OL instead of 4? With Robinson, Gardener, and Bellomy under scholarship and Wilson and Kennedy in reserve AND Shane Morris offered for 2013 do we skip a qb this year?

p.s. I really like Appleby just because a kid going from school to school trying to make his job is a motivated qb compared to other Youtube sensations that dream of building a "superteam" and might not be prepared to put in the hard work.

Marc 71

May 5th, 2011 at 6:48 PM ^

how good Devin will be.  I don't feel all that confident that he is a given for the two years following Denard.  I sincerely hope I'm wrong and that he will be the man but we haven't seen nearly enough to know.

Princetonwolverine

May 5th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^

Why does it seem that everyone we are recruiting is also visiting Alabama? Ugh.

turtleboy

May 5th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^

Because Saban recruited Michigan while at Michigan State and has relationships here with High School coaches. Plus he got Mark Ingram here.

TTUwolverine

May 5th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^

He'll fit right into our off.... wait.  nm.

On a serious note, he does look pretty fast out there, which could be an optical illusion given the level of talent he's playing against.  I wonder if he's fast enough that Rich Rod would have recruited him also.  Probably a useless point to discuss but seeing all those zone reads on his highlight film made me wonder.