Blue Devils land Charlotte Christian linebacker

Charlotte Christian linebacker Kelby Brown has committed to Duke, choosing the Blue Devils over UCLA.

“It was a tough decision for him,” Charlotte Christian coach Jason Estep said a few minutes ago. “He spent three days out at UCLA last week. But it finally came down to the fact that he was really comfortable at Duke, and with the direction of the program and the coaching staff.”

Brown is a member of possibly the most talented linebacking trio in the Carolinas. Fellow starters David Durham (Ohio State) and Ty Linton (North Carolina) already have made their commitments.

Estep said Duke’s high academic profile was also important to Brown and his family.

“He wants to be an orthopedic surgeon, and he has a 5.2 grade-point average in all advanced-placement classes,” Estep said. “While football was probably most important in the decision, academics weighed heavily as well.”

Among other schools that offered Brown, who is 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, were Arkansas, Indiana, Northwestern, Syracuse, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin.

Estep said Brown’s father and younger brother are both 6-5, so he could grow a bit taller. He’s already particularly strong, bench-pressing close to 400 pounds.

“I would expect Duke to start him out at outside linebacker and move him inside as he grows,” Estep said.

--Stan Olson