Miami transfer EDGE Nyjalik Kelly commits to UCF

Former Miami EDGE Nyjalik Kelly is committing to join UCF via the transfer portal, he announced on Tuesday.

Nyjalik Kelly signed with Miami as a four-star recruit in the class of 2022. He was ranked as the No. 9 EDGE and the No. 93 overall player in the country, according to the On3 Industry rankings. Kelly played in four games, with three starts, in 2023. He recorded eight tackles and one tackle for loss while battling injuries.

The Fort Lauderdale native suited up against Miami (Ohio), Texas A&M, Georgia Tech and North Carolina this past season. He had his best game against the Tar Heels, recording four tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss on Oct. 14.

Less than two weeks after that game, Miami coach Mario Cristobal revealed that Nyjalik Kelly would miss the rest of the season.

“He’s been out for a little while,” Mario Cristobal said. “I can tell you, Nyjalik will be out probably for the rest of the season. It’s a little bit more significant.”

In addition to starting three games last season, Kelly was also a key contributor as a freshman in 2022. That year, he recorded 11 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Now, he’ll look to make an impact with UCF in 2024.