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It not only felt right. It felt like home.
Kahlil McKenzie
Courtesy photo
The second part of
Kahlil McKenzie's thought process — more accurately, his feeling process — is why the nation's No. 10 recruit picked the University of Tennessee as his college choice on Thursday at The Opening in Beaverton, Ore.
McKenzie, a 6-foot-4, 341-pound defensive tackle and son of Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, had narrowed his choices to Arizona and Tennessee before making his announcement on national television.
"Everything about (Tennessee) I loved," Kahlil told a national television audience. "From top to bottom, everything was a perfect fit for me."
It also capped a near perfect day for the likeable incoming senior. Earlier he was picked The Opening's Defensive Lineman MVP.
The commitment bolsters an already strong recruiting class for Tennessee, which came it at No. 8
according to 247Sports before factoring in McKenzie's decision. He becomes the 20th recruit to commit to the Vols.
McKenzie's uncle and grandfather live in Tennessee, which proved to be the deciding factor. He spoke with MaxPreps host and reporter Chris Stonebraker on Tuesday.
"I fell in love with Arizona and the school as a whole," he said. "The campus, the coaches, the football stadium, the weight room, the lifting coaches. Everything about it was awesome.
"Tennessee was really the same thing but added to that is it's like a second home to me. With my uncle and grandpa living there, it's like a second home."
McKenzie, a second team
MaxPreps All-American last season at national power
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), left the school in May and he and his younger brother Jalen enrolled at
Clayton Valley Charter (Concord, Calif.) in early June.
According to just about everyone, he's had a tremendous six days at The Opening, which gathers 160 of the top high school football prospects. Last season, McKenzie had 74 tackles and a team-best 12 sacks for De La Salle, which finished 14-1 and lost 20-14 in the California State Open Division Bowl Game to No. 3 St. John Bosco.
Kahlil McKenzie (left), while starring at De La Salle last season versus Folsom.
Photo by Dennis Lee
