Measurables
• At Nike’s The Opening, Kelly-Powell ran a 4.66-second 40-yard dash and ran a 4.21-second 20-yard shuttle. He also recorded a 33.6-inch vertical jump and a 33.0-foot power throw. Kelly-Powell was given a Nike+ Football Rating of 86.13 as a result of that testing.
• Has posted a maximum bench press of 275 pounds.
Statistics
• As a senior, Kelly-Powell recorded 61 tackles, 25 pass breakups and three interceptions. He also carried the ball 58 times for 647 yards and eight touchdowns, and had 119 receiving yards with three touchdowns through the air.
• In his junior season, he made 62 tackles, had three interceptions and scored three touchdowns, while he also ran for 145 yards as a running back.
• During his sophomore season, Kelly-Powell made 23 tackles, had one sack and a fumble recovery.
Honors
• Helped Cass Tech to an undefeated season and Division I state championship victory his senior year.
• USA Today All-USA Michigan first-team defensive back as a senior.
• Selected for the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press Dream Teams.
• 2016 Division 1-2 Associated Press All-State first team.
• Came in at No. 4 on the Detroit News Blue Chip List and Detroit Free Press Fab 50, both rank the state’s top senior football players.
• Named the No. 3 2017 recruit in the state on The Lansing Journal’s Catch 22 list.
• 2015 Detroit News All-Metro first team.
• 2015 all-state honorable mention.
• 2014 All-Detroit honorable mention.
All-Star Games And Camps
• Attended the Rivals Camp Series Cleveland in 2015.
• Attended Nike’s Columbus regional camp in 2015 and 2016.
• Was invited to Nike’s The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore., in 2016.
• Participated in the Under Armour All-America game on Jan. 1, 2017, but did not record a stat.
• Attended the 2016 Camp Pride in Brighton, Mich.
Recruitment
• Committed to Michigan Nov. 14, 2016, after being considered a Michigan lean throughout his entire recruitment.
• Took official visits to Michigan (Dec. 9, 2016), Nebraska (Sept. 2, 2016), Oregon (Sept. 9, 2016), Virginia Tech (Nov. 11, 2016) and Wisconsin (Oct. 14, 2016).
• Head coach Jim Harbaugh, former running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley, defensive coordinator Don Brown, and secondary coaches Brian Smith and Mike Zordich were all heavily involved in recruiting Kelly-Powell.
• Is already enrolled at Michigan.
Notable
• Born March 10, 1998.
• Finished with a 3.9 grade-point average at Cass Tech.
• Was on the state champion 4x100-meter relay team (42.26) with Donovan Peoples-Jones in June 2016.
2017 Projection
Depending on how Kelly-Powell is used in 2017 will determine his projection. He has the ability to play both safety and viper in Don Brown’s system and could get a look at both as an early enrollee. Smart money is on Kelly-Powell redshirting as a freshman, but if some of the other young depth at safety or viper isn’t up to snuff, Kelly-Powell is intelligent enough to pick it up in a hurry.
They Said It
West Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer Head Coach Jack Daniels (Coached Kelly-Powell During Under Armour All-America Game Practices): "He’s been covering the slots for us and then today he got some work on the outside receivers. He can play a little corner, but I think he’s a natural guy covering the slots and I’m pretty sure he’ll be a very physical player as well. We haven’t done much tackling so that’s just based on what I’ve seen so far. He’s quick and athletic in open space, and I can tell he’s a physical player even though tackling has been limited. He likes that contact. He’s smart and I think he’s going to be a great player for Michigan."
Rivals.com Midwest Recruiting Analyst Josh Helmholdt: "Jaylen is a really well-rounded defensive back. He’s a kid who we list as a safety but could play corner and that’s definitely a plus for him. Versatility in the defensive backfield is a strength of his. He’s probably a little undersized for the safety position and maybe not as explosive as you want for a cornerback, but I wouldn’t call him a tweener of those positions. He’s just not quite ideal for either one. He can play both adequately for the Big Ten level. I expect him to find a role for himself at Michigan."
Detroit Cass Tech Head Coach Thomas Wilcher: "I think the fit is great with him because we play Jaylen like Michigan plays their defensive players. The best players are all over the field. We play Jaylen at corner, nickel back, free safety, strong safety — we try to blitz him sometimes. We do a lot of things with him. You can’t just say he’s going to line up and play this. We put him wherever we need to put him at to make an impact. He’s helping the team out tremendously. He’s got great hands; he can run the ball. He does it all. If Harbaugh wants athletes and players, he’s getting one in Jaylen. That’s exactly what he’s getting."
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