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Miami QB Kelly may leave football for baseball

Posted: Thursday February 03, 2000 12:42 PM

In preparation for Kenny Kelly's potential departure, the Hurricanes signed two quarterbacks on Wednesday. Jamie Squire/Allsport

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -- Miami Hurricanes quarterback Kenny Kelly, unhappy that he had to share playing time at the end of last season, says he may give up football to concentrate on baseball with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Kelly, a second-round draft pick by the Devil Rays in 1997, said he's seeking a four-year deal with them.

"If we accomplish that, I'll be leaving school right now to play baseball," Kelly told the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale for Thursday's editions.

Hurricanes coach Butch Davis, whose team is expected to contend for the national championship next season, has dropped hints that Kelly might lose the starting job unless he gives up baseball. Kelly said that regardless of how his contract negotiations turn out, he'll play baseball this summer, just as he has done the past three years.

Kelly, who will be a junior this fall, is still upset that he alternated with freshman Ken Dorsey in Miami's 28-13 Gator Bowl victory over Georgia Tech. Dorsey started the final three regular-season games after Kelly suffered a knee injury.

"I really didn't feel comfortable with the situation around UM after the game," Kelly said. "That was my reason for going to the Devil Rays."

Kelly, the Hurricanes' prize recruit in 1997, said he'd like to make up his mind in the next week. He didn't disclose how much money he's seeking from the Devil Rays but said negotiations aren't going well.

"I'm pretty much waiting on the Devil Rays to see what they're going to do," he said.

Last year, Kelly hit .278 as a leadoff hitter and center fielder for the Class A St. Petersburg Devil Rays. This year he's slated to play for the Class AA Orlando Devil Rays.

In preparation for Kelly's potential departure, the Hurricanes signed two quarterbacks Wednesday. Davis noted the possibility that Kelly could leave soon for baseball.

"It was important to go out and get two kids that could come in and be quarterbacks for the future," Davis said.

Dorsey and Kelly are the only other quarterbacks on the roster.

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