4-Star QB Kellen Mond Breaks Down Top 3, Deciding Factors in Recruitment

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — To say that the last few months have been hectic for 4-star quarterback Kellen Mond would be putting it mildly.

Since the start of the new year, he’s adjusted to an offseason transfer from his native Texas to Florida prep power IMG Academy.

Days before departing for the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles, Mond backed off a long-standing pledge to Baylor in the wake of the off-field problems that led to the firing of former head coach Art Briles.

He’s since identified three programs as his new list of favorites: Auburn, Ohio State and Texas A&M. 

Mond spoke with Bleacher Report and dished on the attractions to those three programs.

Auburn Tigers: “They are my No. 1. I have a great relationship with the offensive coordinator, Coach [Rhett] Lashlee. I also have a lot of respect for [head] Coach [Gus] Malzahn because of how he runs his offense, and I feel like it fits my skill set very well.”

Ohio State Buckeyes: “They are my No. 2 right now. I have a lot of respect for head coach Urban Meyer and what he’s done with quarterbacks and how he’s kind of groomed a lot of them to go toward the NFL. I definitely feel like he can help me become a great quarterback.”

Texas A&M Aggies: “They just got a new offensive coordinator in Coach [Noel] Mazzone. I plan on getting down to A&M sometime in June to see what they are about. I would like to see how I fit into their offense and get a feel for what it's like in College Station.”

Mond has taken recent visits to Auburn, Florida and Ohio State in the last two months. In addition to visiting the Aggies, he also noted that return trips to Auburn and Ohio State are possible later in the summer.

For now, he’s focused on trying to earn a spot in the Elite 11 and punch his ticket to The Opening in July.

“It’s definitely a great experience out here. I get to compete against some of the best quarterbacks and also learn a lot from the coaches here,” Mond said. “[Elite 11 head coach] Trent Dilfer is one of the best who played in the NFL for a long time, so he definitely knows his stuff, so I respect him for that.”

Another perk of the trip is the opportunity to compete with and learn from a player he admits he’s studied closely in the offseason: Clemson All-American and Elite 11 counselor Deshaun Watson.

“[Deshaun is] someone I feel like I can study and take pointers from because we’re both really lengthy and have strong arms and can be accurate with the ball down the field,” Mond explained. “Yet we have good footwork and can make plays with our feet. I think a lot of the intangibles he has, I have them too. So I’ve kind of tried to model my game after his.”

Mond, who plans to enroll early, hasn’t finalized a timeline on when he will make a decision. However, Mond, who carries a 3.1 GPA with goals of majoring in criminology in college, has identified some parameters that will help him pick his ultimate landing spot at the next level.

“I just want to see which school can help me reach my full potential and help make me the best quarterback I can be,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to get to the NFL, but I understand that it’s not always promised that you will get to the NFL. So I really want to make sure I get a great education, and all three of those schools can provide that as well.”

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani