Kitchens to Travel in January

Homestead standout Darrin Kitchens got a chance to play numerous snaps Monday night at what will most likely be his new position once he enters college. Kitchens was a defensive end for Homestead during the fall registering 19 sacks, but in the Miami-Dade North-South All-Star Game put on by Divine Sports Inc. he lined up at outside linebacker for numerous snaps.

The first play Kitchens lined up at outside linebacker for the South team he was lined up over the slot wide receiver in man coverage. The North ran the ball off tackle and Kitchens came in to force a fumble giving his team the ball.

“It felt great,” said Kitchens on his first extended time at outside linebacker in a game. “It was like my natural position I got to play.”

The ultra fast Kitchens has seen his recruitment heat up a bit in recent weeks with Michigan and Florida jumping in the mix. Kitchens has a busy month of January planned to visit some schools.

“I’m going to Florida on the 29th (of January),” said Kitchens. “I’m going to South Florida on the 23rd and Michigan on the 8th. I went to Syracuse on my first visit December 8th.”

Syracuse has been a school after Kitchens since the spring and is currently in his top two along with Florida. Kitchens talked a little about the Florida program.

“Florida is a great program, always been a great program. I always thought it would be a great school to attend, and I went up there and I liked the experience I had up there.”

The school Kitchens knows the least about is Michigan. The visit for him will be instrumental in the chances of the Wolverines landing the Homestead star.

“I really don’t know much about Michigan. The coaches came in started recruiting me and telling me about the school, so I said I would go on a visit to see if I’m interested or not.”

Even with these visits set for January, look for Kitchens to have a decision made in the next couple weeks.

“I’m going to try to make a decision before we go back to school in January. The visits will still happen because once I make my decision I’m still going to keep my mind open.”