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Clemson DT Kelly enters NCAA transfer portal

Field Level Media

January 18, 2020 at 8:45 pm.

Clemson junior defensive tackle Xavier Kelly has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

He appeared in 10 games for the national championship runner-up Tigers in 2019, tallying six tackles, a half-sack, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Kelly will be eligible to play his final season in 2020 as a graduate transfer.

“I have never shied away from hard work or a challenge. My time at Clemson was a challenge that I happily accepted, (and I) worked hard to be the best defensive lineman, teammate and student I could be,” Kelly posted Saturday on Twitter.

“With this being said, I have decided to enter the transfer portal and continue my football career elsewhere. It is an honor to be able to say that I graduated from Clemson. Clemson will always have a special place in my heart.”

Kelly registered 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 28 games with the Tigers.

A four-star recruit in Clemson’s 2016 recruiting class, he was rated the No. 1 prospect in the state of Kansas and the No. 8 defensive end in the country by the 247 Sports Composite.