4-Star DE Xavier Kelly Tweets Top 8 Schools

One of the top 2016 recruits from America's Heartland has narrowed his list of schools, and they represent nearly every corner of the country.

Xavier Kelly, a 4-star defensive end from Wichita, Kansas, is rated by 247Sports' composite as the No. 102 player in the 2016 class and the country's eighth-best weak-side edge-rusher. He's the top-rated player from Kansas, but he only included one of that state's two FBS programs among his final eight.

That would be Kansas State, where Kelly had originally committed last November but then backed out of in March.

A two-sport athlete at Wichita East High School, Kelly played both tight end and defensive end during the football season and also starred on the basketball team.

Clocked at 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash, per 247Sports, Kelly has great speed for a player of his size and he figures to continue to grow into his body. Bleacher Report's Tyler Donohue said this could prompt college coaches to "implement him as a stand-up defensive threat along the edge.

"His first-step burst is elite enough to send even polished blockers back on their heels," Donohue said.

Kelly has received 31 scholarship offers, most recently from Florida in early June, and he spent much of this past month making visits to his many suitors. Kelly made visits to Florida, Miami (Florida), Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Oklahoma in June, yet only Michigan made the cut.

His final eight doesn't line up with what experts had originally expected from the 6'5", 255-pound Kelly, as all six entries in 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictor made prior to Kelly's announcement had him going to either Michigan State, Nebraska or Oklahoma.

Alabama has since jumped into a tie with Nebraska and Oklahoma for first, at 25 percent, and 247Sports' Chris Nee expects the Crimson Tide to "surge" with predictions.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.