National running back prospect focused on successful season with McKeesport football team

Probably everybody in the city knows of him, probably everybody in the tri-state area knows about him, and he just handles it perfectly," said McKeesport Head Coach Tom Smith. "You would think he was just another player."

McKeesport senior Kemon Spell is the top running back recruit in the nation. But if you ask him, that isn't something that even enters his mind.

"I keep putting my head down and work," said Spell. "There's guys out there that love me. There's guys out there that hate me. But for the people that hate me out there, I don't got nothing to say. I just put my head down and work."

He's the highest-ranked prospect to come out of Western Pennsylvania since Terrelle Pryor nearly two decades ago. Spell, who committed to Georgia in February after de-committing from Penn State, missed five games last season with an ankle injury.

"It was just a tough setting for me, being on the sideline," said Spell. "But I'm back healthy this year and we're coming for it all."

Even with that ankle injury, Spell rushed for more than 1,700 yards and scored 32 touchdowns.

"It's crazy," said senior fullback Abe Miller. "A lot of times I'm out in space, lead blocking for him and there'll be times I miss a block or I miss a key and he ends up in the end zone anyway."

"My grandma was my motivation," said Spell. "You know, every day I wake up, I'm feeling down. I feel like I can't do something. I always throw some gospel music on for her because always went to church together before she passed away."

His current number three on his jersey was her favorite number. For any 17-year-old the fanfare, the circumstances and all the attention could bring a lot of pressure. But for Spell, there's a maturity and humility well beyond his years.

"When we're losing and it's a tough game, you know, everybody's depending on me, which they should, and I understand that," said Spell. "But you know, it also puts a lot on me because I still have to worry about my assignment so everything else I got to do. That's kind of where a leader has to step in."

And this year, he's looking to lead the Tigers to their first WPIAL Championship, and State title in 21 years.

"It's been since forever," said Spell. "Me and this team want to be the people to change it."

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