Star quarterback Darnell Kelly will return to the Langston Hughes Panthers, where he started his prep career. He transferred to Peachtree Ridge as a sophomore and had his coming out party, throwing for 2,719 yards and 27 touchdowns.
On the gridiron, Kelly is already making headway on the 7-on-7 circuit with Huncho Elite, a premier program here in Georgia. He threw a game-winning touchdown this past weekend to lead Huncho Elite to victory. Kelly is coming off 2,521 passing yards and 28 touchdowns in the air this past season for Peachtree Ridge as a junior. He had one of his best games against Mountain View High School when he went 27-33 for 316 passing yards and five touchdowns. This season, Kelly also showcased his ability to run and keep plays alive with his legs, rushing for 463 yards and five touchdowns. He led his team to the second round of the playoffs in 2024.
Kelly recently inked an NIL Deal last weekend with The Goal Line Family, and continues to ink deals with brands and companies.
NIL was passed back in October of 2023 here in Georgia by the GHSA, allowing high school athletes to engage in NIL activities including football. Since the NIL passing was announced, Kelly has inked deals with Listen Alphabets and Young Kings NIL card collection. Listen Alphabets is a company that focuses on mental training for athletes and high achievers that keeps athletes locked in and mentally sharp. Young Kings specializes in one-of-a-kind cards that are relevant to the athlete that they can keep. Kelly has continued to show the ability to be a marketable athlete even early on in his career. His 11,000 followers on Instagram are used to promote his talent, personality, and who he is off the field. Kelly’s stock continues to rise and it won’t be long before he ends up with a landmark deal.
He will now join an elite crop of talent at Langston Hughes that has 4-star running back Carsyn Baker and 4-star tight end Xavier Tiller. The Panthers also have one of the better defenses in 5A and made it to the state championship in 2024. Despite having a new coach at the helm in Andrico Hines, you have to think that, with the infusion of talent, Hughes will be a dangerous team in 2025, especially with the addition of Kelly. He has a bright future ahead and will now join the Panthers in the spring.
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