Legacy 5-Star DT Recruit Kahlil McKenzie Sets Decision Date
Class of 2015 defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie, a 5-star recruit and the No. 35 overall player on the 247Sports Composite, announced Tuesday night that he will make his college decision on July 10, per Kipp Adams of 247Sports.
Kahlil is the son of Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, who starred at the University of Tennessee in the early 1980s. The younger McKenzie is favored to follow his father's footsteps, as UT currently has 30 of 31 votes on his 247Sports "Crystal Ball."
And he does look right at home in this creamsicle Volunteers bucket hat, which he tweeted out late Tuesday:
But his decision is not as plain as that might make it sound. Arizona is also a big player for McKenzie's services, and a West Coast team would be much more familiar for the Concord, California, native.
According to Wescott Eberts of SB Nation, McKenzie raved about the unoffical visit he took to Tucson in April:
"Arizona really exceeded my expectations a lot...
Arizona wasn't really a place that I thought would be a really great place for me, but once I got there I loved everything about it. I love the coaches, I loved the facilities, I loved the city. It wasn't too hot when I was there visiting, which was nice. Everything was really nice about it.
"
Although he is a 5-star recruit on the 247Sports Composite, McKenzie's ceiling might be even higher than his ranking of No. 35 overall in the country would indicate. The subjective rankings at 247Sports have him rated as the nation's No. 10 overall player.
And if you still don't believe the hype, maybe check out this video—courtesy of Eberts—of McKenzie obliterating some hopeless offensive linemen at the Oakland Nike Football Camp in May:
Yeah. This guy can play.
Whoever lands McKenzie will not just be getting the son of a famous personnel man, they will be getting a 6'4", 309-pound wrecking ball who grew up around the game and has the physical tools to match.
Knoxville and Tucson will wait on pins and needles for another month.
Follow Brian Leigh on Twitter: @BLeighDAT
