{"id":42502,"date":"2018-04-21T09:00:28","date_gmt":"2018-04-21T13:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=42502"},"modified":"2021-06-01T20:04:07","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T00:04:07","slug":"john-kelly-2018-nfl-draft-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2018\/04\/21\/john-kelly-2018-nfl-draft-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"John Kelly 2018 NFL Draft Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview
\n<\/strong>Position<\/strong>: Running back
\nHeight:\u00a0<\/strong>5’10”
\nWeight:\u00a0<\/strong>216 pounds
\nSchool<\/strong>: Tennessee Volunteers<\/p>\n

Combine Performance Data<\/strong>:
\n40-yard dash:\u00a0<\/strong>4.64 seconds
\nVertical jump<\/strong>: 35 inches
\nBroad jump<\/strong>: 10 feet
\nThree-cone drill:\u00a0<\/strong>7.13 seconds
\n20-yard shuttle:\u00a0<\/strong>4.51 seconds<\/p>\n

John Kelly 2018 NFL Draft Profile<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Throughout\u00a0the 2017 draft process,\u00a0there was a narrative about a talented, yet,\u00a0underused Tennessee running back… rookie sensation, Alvin Kamara<\/a><\/strong>. This off-season,\u00a0John<\/strong> Kelly<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0has fallen under the same category. While Kelly may not be the next NFL offensive rookie of the year, he will strive to make an immediate impact his rookie season in the NFL.<\/p>\n

\n

Oak Park 2015 RB John Kelly grad, has declared for the 2018 NFL Draft out of Tennessee https:\/\/t.co\/N6UROQCCBG<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Ml7Se5xwO0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The D Zone (@TheD_Zone) December 30, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Football Career<\/h2>\n

Before spending his college career in Knoxville, Kelly was a standout running back for Oak Park High School, located\u00a0in Detroit, MI. During his senior season, Kelly rushed for 1,321 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also returning a punt and kickoff for a\u00a0touchdown. Kelly received scholarship offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Minnesota but chose to become the Volunteers’ newest running back.<\/p>\n

Kelly’s freshman year foreshadowed the rest of his collegiate\u00a0career at Tennessee as\u00a0he was used sparingly behind the likes of Kamara and Jalen Hurd<\/a>.<\/strong>\u00a0The talented Oak Park product received 40 rushing attempts for 165 yards and did not record a reception his first year. Tennessee would go on to finish the year 9-4 and win the Outback Bowl, where Kelly rushed for his first career touchdown.<\/p>\n

In 2016, Kelly made the most of his uptick in opportunities. The second-year running back saw gains in every category across the board – 103 touches, 630 rushing yards, five touchdowns – including a very impressive 6.4 yards-per-carry. The four-headed rushing attack, including quarterback Joshua Dobbs<\/a><\/strong>, limited the contribution of one single rusher for the Volunteers.<\/p>\n

Junior Year<\/h2>\n

In what would be his final year at Tennessee, Kelly finally became the Volunteers’ featured back. As the starter,\u00a0Kelly set new career-highs with\u00a0189 rushing attempts, 37 catches, 1,077 scrimmage yards, and nine touchdowns. In his best collegiate performance, Kelly rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown while hauling in nine catches for 96 yards against Florida. Kelly carried Tennessee’s offense, as he totaled 237 yards from scrimmage in a narrow 26-20 loss to the Gators.\u00a0Despite tallying only 370 career touches, Kelly displayed subtle elusiveness and the ability to consistently make\u00a0defenders miss.<\/p>\n

\n

Tennessee RB John Kelly forced 54 missed tackles in 11 games in 2017 pic.twitter.com\/kCyYk3K7rI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) February 13, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Strengths<\/h2>\n