Alabama’s safeties coach Charles Kelly has accepted the defensive coordinator job at Colorado, but his new job title did not stop him from helping Alabama secure a top 2023 recruiting class.
Kelly recruited the states of Alabama, Georgia and surrounding areas during his time at Alabama. He has managed to help the Crimson Tide land multiple top recruits during his tenure, and the 2023 recruiting cycle has been no different. With reports surfacing he would depart for Colorado, Kelly was still on the road recruiting alongside Nick Saban for Alabama.
Saban praised Kelly and Colorado’s head coach Deion Sanders for the smooth transition during his National Signing Day press conference.
“I really appreciate Deion (Sanders) and Charles Kelly both, in terms of trying to finish the right way. I went through that experience when I left the Cleveland Browns to go to Michigan State as a head coach, and we had four or five, six games left and I felt I owed it to the players, to coach Belichick and the Cleveland Browns organization to do the best job I could and stay focused on that. Charles has done a really good job of that.”
Nick Saban, Coleman Hutzler and Charles Kelly visit Alabama 4-Star OLB commit Yhonzae Pierre @YhonzaeP and his family.
Pierre is set to sign with the Crimson Tide next week. pic.twitter.com/rFTm5QjzzU
— Touchdown Alabama Recruiting (@TDARecruiting) December 16, 2022
Kelly was also speaking positively about Alabama behind closed doors heading into National Signing Day. He played a big role in Alabama landing five-star recruits, Qua Russaw and James Smith. Russaw said Kelly told him Alabama is the best place for him.
“I have the best relationship with coach Kelly,” Russaw said Wednesday after signing with Alabama. “I know he is gone. He told me, no matter if he leaves or not, he thinks this is a great spot for me, and Alabama is going to take care of me.”
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Justin Smith is a Scouting/Recruiting analyst for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
