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          On The Trail

          Ryan Kelley, No. 5 dual-threat QB, commits to Arizona State

          • Erik McKinney, ESPN Staff WriterMay 6, 2016, 11:56 PM
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            • Covers recruiting in the Pac-12
            • Joined ESPN in 2009
            • Graduated from USC
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          Arizona State might have landed the most important recruit of the Todd Graham era on Friday, as ESPN 300 quarterback Ryan Kelley announced his commitment to the Sun Devils.

          Kelley, 6-foot-4 and 184 pounds, is the nation’s No. 92 prospect and No. 5 dual-threat quarterback, but the state of Arizona’s No. 2 prospect looked as though he’d be terrorizing the Sun Devils in the future, rather than playing for them, when he announced his commitment to Oregon last November. But Kelley announced his decommitment from the Ducks earlier this week and wasted little time in completing the flip to the hometown Sun Devils.

          It had been a slow start on the recruiting tail for Arizona State in the 2017 class, as the Sun Devils held just two commitments prior to Kelley’s decision. But now Arizona State is one of just two Pac-12 programs to hold a commitment from an ESPN 300 quarterback, and Kelley will be a huge boost to the Sun Devils’ recruiting efforts, especially in the Grand Canyon state.

          Kelley’s commitment is also another big win for Graham on the recruiting trail. After not signing the top in-state prospect since the 2008 class, Arizona State landed N'keal Harry -- the nation’s No. 1 wide receiver and top in-state prospect in the 2016 class -- and now has another huge in-state piece in Kelley, Arizona’s No. 2 recruit in this class. The Sun Devils eventually signed three of the top six in-state prospects and the coaches hope to find the same success this year, with offensive tackle Austin Jackson, athletes Isaiah Pola-Mao and Tyler Johnson and safety K.J. Jarrell -- all ESPN 300 prospects.

          This commitment also continues Arizona State’s successful quarterback recruiting in recent years. After not taking a quarterback in the 2012 class, the Sun Devils have signed four-star quarterbacks Manny Wilkins and Bryce Perkins, as well as ESPN 300 quarterbacks Brady White and Dillon Sterling-Cole in the last three classes.

          As a junior, Kelley threw for 2,606 yards and 20 interceptions, and ran for 459 yards and four touchdowns. He joins inside linebacker Loren Mondy and safety Ashton Logan in Arizona State's 2017 recruiting class.