Wide receiver Kendall Kelly from Gadsden City High School in Gadsden, Ala., didn’t visit Tennessee last weekend as he previously planned.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Kelly said he didn’t visit because he was unable to leave with teammate Dre Kirkpatrick, who made the trip to UT.

Kelly instead visited Auburn to watch the Tigers play LSU.

Kelly said he hopes to visit UT on Oct. 25 when the Vols play Alabama.

That would seem like a good weekend for Kelly to visit. He said Alabama is a big part of UT’s tradition.

“I think of the big rivalry with them and Alabama,” Kelly said.

Kelly has become more familiar with Alabama since Nick Saban became coach of the Crimson Tide before the 2007 season.

Kelly has been impressed by Saban’s job at Alabama.

“He’s done well down there,” Kelly said. “He’s got the guys all coming together. They all believe in what they’re doing.”

Alabama already has a tie to Kelly with freshman linebacker Jerrell Harris, who signed with the Tide out of Gadsden City in February.

Kelly said Harris hasn’t pressured him to choose Alabama.

“He just said it’s a big jump from high school to college,” Kelly said.

Kelly still has plenty of jumps to make before he chooses a school.

He said he’s still considering UT, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Florida State, Clemson, Southern Cal and Oregon.

Kelly said he hasn’t set dates for any official visits. He said he will do that after he shortens his list of schools.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.