Schools to Watch After Decommitment of 4-Star DE Xavier Kelly

Kansas State suffered a big blow with its 2016 recruiting class over the weekend when 4-star defensive end—and in-state prospect—Xavier Kelly announced his decommitment on Saturday.

Kelly told Bleacher Report Monday morning that while he still has an appreciation for Kansas State, giving every school a chance to recruit him once again is the best decision. He originally committed to the Wildcats at the end of November.

"I talked to my dad for about an hour, and we decided we wanted to have the best opportunity for me," Kelly said. "In order to do that, I needed to reopen my recruiting and explore all of my options."

Kansas State's loss, however, will be another school's gain. Two weeks ago, Kelly showcased his skills at The Opening Dallas Regional, and after measuring in at 6'5" and 230 pounds, the Wichita, Kansas, prospect showed quickness, athleticism and explosiveness in one-on-one drills. Kelly also displayed his impressive speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds. This was not only the fastest time for any lineman, but also one of the best overall times at the Dallas event.

So which school will benefit from Kelly's decommitment from Kansas State? One school that could benefit from having a player like Kelly on the end is Michigan. The Wolverines have a lot of size with their defensive ends, but Kelly can be a reliable speed rusher and a potential game-changer in Jim Harbaugh's defensive scheme.

Currently, the defensive end has outside offers from Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, TCU, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Oklahoma State and Kansas, and Kelly told Bleacher Report that all of those schools are potential homes. Of the nine offers, however, Michigan, TCU and Oregon are three to keep an eye on.

Michigan offered Kelly earlier this month and is the latest school to do so, according to 247Sports. The Wolverines are hoping to jump-start a 2016 class that only has two commitments so far, and an athletic defensive lineman would be a huge addition for Harbaugh and his staff.

Kelly said he plans on visiting Michigan in June. The Wolverines could have the biggest advantage of the three schools unofficially in front.

"My dad is from Michigan, and I also have family in Detroit," Kelly said. "I know that Michigan is right down the street. I'm going to go on a visit to see how I like it. I don't know much about [Michigan], but I know it has a historical program and always has a good football team."

Of the three schools, Michigan is the one to really keep close tabs on.

During Kelly's trip to the Dallas area a couple weeks ago, he took an unofficial visit to TCU and said he enjoyed what he saw. The overall size of the campus was something he raved about.

Seeing the football team pull off an outstanding 2014 season also helps TCU's chances for landing him.

"It's a private school that has about 8,000 [undergraduates]. Instead of about 300 people in one class, they only have 15 to 25 in one class," Kelly said. "It has nice facilities, but I really like that it's a small campus. Everything is right next to each other."

Like Michigan, Oregon is a school that Kelly is looking to visit this summer in an effort to further familiarize himself with the program. Kelly watched the Ducks play Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship and liked what the team brought to the table.

"That's a big-time offer," he said. "I don't know too much about them yet, but they're one of the top programs in the nation. I'm trying to visit them in June to learn more about them."

Kelly said he has no timetable of when he plans on committing to a new school. He did say that he has a great idea of all the characteristics the winning school will have.

"I want to go to a school where I know I'll fit in with the program and be comfortable living there," he said. "I want to be able to make a difference on a team. I also want to go someplace where I can get a good education."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst with Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. Player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles