Super 11: Keeping up with the Kirklands: Athletic sisters spurred Raines' Kenton Kirkland

For most of his athletic life, Kenton Kirkland wasn't focused on the Super 11.

Just keeping up with track-star sisters was enough of a challenge.

"Growing up in a house full of athletes, it was pretty hard, especially being the youngest," he said.

Spend years chasing speedy siblings around the athletic world, and good things are bound to happen.

At least that's the blueprint that led Kirkland, now entering his senior season at Raines, onto the Times-Union's annual Super 11 list for Northeast Florida's leading high school football recruits.

And it's the blueprint that paved the way for his commitment Monday night to play college football at Florida State, selecting the Seminoles ahead of Kentucky.

The Raines defensive back continues the Vikings' long and proud tradition on the Super 11, a list that includes famous names on defense like Derrick Alexander, Lito Sheppard and Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins.

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Kenton Kirkland the latest Raines High player to make our Super 11

Oddly enough, although Raines has produced numerous linemen, linebackers and receivers on the Super 11, Kirkland is the school's first defensive back to make the annual list since safety and eventual Illinois signee Donsay Hardeman in 2005.

And like his older sisters, Kirkland is on course to continue his career in the Sunshine State.

Kirkland began his athletic adventure around age 5, playing both track and football.

But he had some catching up to do to try to keep pace with his older sisters Kendall, now entering her junior year as a hurdler and jumper at Florida Atlantic, and Kai'lyn, in her sophomore season in the sprints at UCF. Both sisters grew into first-team All-First Coast selections themselves.

"I was always known as the Kirkland sisters' brother," he said. "But I always wanted to make a name for myself."

He's become a two-sport star, in track and in football, in his own right.

During Kirkland's junior year of football, he picked off one pass and broke up 12 others. He also has the versatility to line up in multiple roles in the secondary, a valuable trait for college football recruiters. He's received more than 20 scholarship offers, including the likes of Florida, LSU, Miami and Michigan, before choosing the Seminoles.

"I want more interceptions just from a personal standpoint, and as a team, I want to get back to that championship status that Raines always has held," Kirkland said. "That's how they've been known as a championship team."

Not to be forgotten is his track talent. In 2021, Kirkland achieved an emotional victory with his anchor leg in the closing 4x400-meter relay at the Bob Hayes Invitational, helping Raines overtake three schools in the final event to achieve the school's first team title in its home meet for a quarter-century.

Although injuries hampered his spring track season, he owns a personal-best time of 48.79 in his best event, the 400. He won district and regional championships at the distance and placed third in the Florida High School Athletic Association championship meet in 2021.

He's also carrying on a family tradition in the Super 11. His uncle, Ephesians Bartley, earned Super 11 recognition as a linebacker at Fletcher in 1986, later playing under Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida and earning a ninth-round NFL Draft selection from the Philadelphia Eagles in 1992.

The athletic path that started with those family competitions is now leading Kirkland into elite company as he works to make a lasting mark on the Northwest Jacksonville program's storied history.

"It's definitely something you've got to uphold," Kirkland said. "You've got big shoes to fill with those names like Lito Sheppard, Brian Dawkins, and being able to be possibly classified as one of those greats. It just makes me want to work more to have my name up there along with those guys."

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Raines High School star Kenton Kirkland inspired by speedy sisters