RIVIERA BEACH – The senior season for Justin Kelly has officially begun.
In his final year at Suncoast, the 6-foot-2, 160-pound wide receiver and defensive back plans to make the most of these next few months on the gridiron. He will look back on his junior season and this past offseason as motivation to be in peak form.
“I’m playing both sides,” Kelly Jr. said. “I’m always looking forward to strive on both sides of the ball and whichever one feels best at the end of the season will determine what my main position is. But I see myself as a key receiver and a developed DB. I had to adapt to the defensive side because I was placed at cornerback as a freshman, which I gained experience and knowledge to use for the following years after that. I played free safety and partial corner last year when my coach (former Suncoast head coach Jimmy Clark) needed me to.”
As a junior, Kelly finished with 11 tackles, four pass deflections, one interception, and one touchdown in seven games. He had five balls thrown his way, with only one ball being caught on his side last season.
“I was always a dominant wide receiver,” Kelly Jr. said. “I just had to take advantage of defense last year with the situation. When coach needed me for a first down conversion or whenever, I made the play. But this year, I’m the key player so everything is on the line and I have to strive, nothing less.”
While Kelly has no offers at this time, he did gain some interest from a pair of Division II colleges. He said that new Suncoast head coach Mark Leone is helping him with his college recruiting process.
Meanwhile, Kelly took some measures to improve his game during this past offseason.
“During the summer, every day was a grind when I was able to work out,” Kelly Jr. said. “I was either at Dyer Park by myself or with some college athletes such as William Wells, Rashaune Downie and others. I also worked out with my teammates and other Palm Beach County athletes. Also, I did beach workouts and track practices at different times to develop my speed and mobility. When school training came back, I was grinding at practice, making sure I was dominating practice while also being in and out the weight room to put some muscle weight on me.”
Kelly Jr. was specific with his goals for the next few months ahead.
“Individually I want to complete all catches while receiving yards after the catch each play and dominating both sides of the ball at my max capability,” he said. “Also, I want to shut down my side of the field on defense, showing coaches that I’ve put in the work to develop my game. I don’t only want to be great; I have to be great. I want to lead and motivate the players under me to show them that just because we go to Suncoast, it doesn’t mean you can’t succeed in the sport you love while being a student-athlete at the school. I want to show that facing adversity can teach you lessons and make your grind more worthwhile.”
Kelly Jr. had more to say.
“I know some of what I stated above may be considered a team goal, but I plan on making the playoffs and getting better as a family and a team each week while trying my best to make it to districts with my brothers,” he said.
NOTE: For Week 1, Suncoast will be playing against Park Vista tonight (Aug. 26; 6:30 p.m. kickoff) at Jupiter High School.
