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Kelly has a choice: UT (football) or Arizona State (baseball)

Casey Kelly isn't just deciding between colleges this week, he's deciding between sports.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback from Sarasota (Fla.) High School expects to make the all-important college decision by Friday.

Kelly is down to two schools: Tennessee and Arizona State. If he chooses UT, he'll be a football player as soon as he steps on campus, adhering to the football scholarship the Vols have offered him.

If he chooses Arizona State, he'll focus on baseball and probably won't even play football during his freshman season. The Sun Devils have offered him a baseball scholarship, not a full ride in football.

"It's two different situations," Kelly said. "Arizona State would be baseball my first year, get settled in and not worry about football in the fall. On the other side (at UT), I can start football right away."

Kelly spent the weekend exploring the football side during his official visit to Knoxville.

"It was a lot of fun," Kelly said.

Kelly had been to Knoxville before. This visit, he said he spent more time with UT's coaching staff than before.

"I just got more comfortable with the coaches," he said.

That could be key in his decision. After building a relationship with former offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, Kelly has been plenty complimentary of his meetings with Cutcliffe's replacement - Dave Clawson. Cutcliffe took the head coaching job at Duke in December.

Even if Kelly chooses UT, that doesn't mean he's dead set on football. Kelly, who is considered a strong prospect at shortstop, also figures to be picked in June's amateur baseball draft. If he's picked high enough, Kelly has admitted that a large contract could be tough to turn down.

If Kelly chooses Arizona State, it might behoove the Vols to keep calling even after football's national signing day on Feb. 6.

Kelly wouldn't actually sign with the Sun Devils until the NCAA baseball signing day in March. That means he could still become a Vol even if he announced he was heading to Arizona State, as long as the Vols still had a scholarship available.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

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