Kareem Kelly
Encyclopedia
Kareem Kelly is an American football
wide receiver
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints
in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at USC.
He has also been a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
of the Canadian Football League
, Los Angeles Avengers
of the Arena Football League, the Baltimore Ravens
and Chicago Bears
of the National Football League
, and the Las Vegas Locomotives
of the United Football League.
in Long Beach, California
. He was a 1998 Super Prep All-American, Prep Star Dream Team Top 100, ESPN Top 100, The Sporting News 101 Prime Prospects, Rivalnet Top 100, USA Today All-USA honorable mention, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-Western, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team (unanimous selection), Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Tacoma News Tribune
Western 100, Las Vegas Sun
Super 11 first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State second team, All-CIF Southern Section first team, All-CIF Division I first team, Los Angeles Times All-South Coast/Southeast and Long Beach Press-Telegram
Dream Team first team as a senior at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High. In 1998, he had 50 receptions for 1,096 yards (21.9 avg.) and 17 TDs. He had one game with 8 catches for 181 yards and 3 TDs. Long Beach Poly was a CIF Division I finalist.
As a 1997 junior, he made All-CIF Southern Section second team, All-CIF Division I first team, Long Beach Press-Telegram second team and All-League while catching 43 passes for 560 yards (13.0 avg.) and 9 TDs. Long Beach Poly was the CIF Division I champion. In his 3-year career, his team went 36-5. Current Trojans DeShaun Hill, Mike Pollard, Darrell Rideaux, Hershel Dennis
and former Trojan Winston Justice
also prepped at Long Beach Poly.
and is #3 on the Trojans all-time receiving list with 204 catches; during his tenure at USC he set the school-record for consecutive games with a catch (48), which has since been broken.
games when Hayes was injured), he appeared in all 12 games in 1999 and caught 54 passes (second on USC) for a team-best 902 yards (team-high 16.7 avg.) with 4 TDs. He set Pac-10 and USC freshman records for most catches (54, 11th on USC's single season chart) and receiving yards (902, the most by a Trojan since Keyshawn Johnson
had 1,434 in 1995). He was third in the Pac-10 in receiving yards (75.2). He was the only Trojan with a catch in every game in 1999. He had 4 outings with 100 receiving yards (104 at University of Hawaii
, 100 at Arizona, 129 against Stanford and 170 at Cal
). He was named the 1999 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and to the 1999 The Sporting News
Freshman All-American second team. He also returned 5 punts for 14 yards (2.8 avg.) and ran 2 reverses for 17 yards (8.5 avg.). He began his USC career catching 5 passes for a game-best 104 yards at Hawaii. Against San Diego State, he had 6 catches for 98 yards (both game highs), including a 13-yard TD in the fourth quarter (the game's decisive points) as he outleaped an Aztec defender (who ripped off his helmet on the tackle). He had 5 catches for 87 yards at University of Oregon
, 3 receptions for 56 yards against Oregon State, and then 6 catches for 100 yards at Arizona. At Notre Dame
, he hauled in a 58-yard pass to set up a score. He caught 8 passes for 129 yards (both game bests) against Stanford, then had 9 catches for 170 yards (both career and game bests) with a 72-yard TD (a USC 1999 long reception) at Cal. He had 6 catches for 51 yards against Arizona State, added a 10-yard reception at Washington State, had 3 grabs for 32 yards (with a 22-yard touchdown) against UCLA and 1 for 7 yards versus Louisiana Tech.
, San Jose State, Oregon State, Stanford, Arizona State, UCLA and Notre Dame) at split end and once (California) at flanker. He missed the Arizona game after spraining his ankle
and straining his quadriceps at Oregon State. He was the much-used backup in the other 2 games (Oregon and Washington State
). Overall in 2000 while appearing in 11 games, he led USC in receptions (55) and yardage (796 yards) for a 14.5 average with 4 TDs. He also carried the ball 5 times on reverses for 8 yards (1.6 avg.) and returned 6 punts for 22 yards (3.7 avg.). His 55 catches in 2000 is tied for 10th on USC's season list and is the most ever by a USC sophomore. By the end of 2000, he had 109 career receptions for 1,698 yards, with both marks being the most by a Trojan at the end of his sophomore season. Kelly had 2 catches for 15 yards against Penn State, then a career-best 10 catches for 145 yards (both game highs) against Colorado. Against San Jose State, he had a game-high 7 catches for 106 yards (including a 61-yard TD). He had 1 for 11 yards at Oregon State before suffering a strained right quad which sidelined him for the Arizona contest. He returned for the Oregon game and had 3 catches for 45 yards. He had a team-best 4 catches for 51 yards at Stanford, then a game-high 5 catches for 42 yards against California (he also had 2 carries for 8 yards) and 6 receptions for a game-high 85 yards at Arizona State. He had a game-high 7 catches for 114 yards (with a 34-yard TD) against Washington State, then a game-high 6 catches for 91 yards (with a 39-yard TD) at UCLA and 4 catches for a game-best 91 yards (with a 59-yard TD) against Notre Dame.
, he caught 3 passes for 93 yards, including a 58-yard TD. He added 5 receptions for 127 yards (both game highs) versus Arizona State, 2 catches for 16 yards at Notre Dame, 5 grabs for 64 yards (both team bests) at Arizona and 5 catches for 73 yards (both team highs) against Oregon State. At California, he caught a team-best 4 passes for a game-high 88 yards, including a 5-yard TD, and also ran 2 reverses for 23 yards. He caught 2 passes for 3 yards against UCLA and ran 2 reverses for 6 yards. He added a team-high 3 receptions for 33 yards (with a 22-yarder) against Utah.
and also returned 2 punts for 0 yards. He had 4 catches for 36 yards at Colorado and returned 4 punts for 31 yards. At Kansas State, he caught 3 passes for 42 yards and returned a punt 19 yards. He had a 6-yard catch against Oregon State. He had a game-best 8 catches for 66 yards at Washington State. He caught 3 passes for 19 yards against California, including a 6-yard TD. He caught a 16-yard pass against Washington. At Oregon, he had 6 receptions for 94 yards, with a 31-yard TD. He had 3 receptions for 69 yards (including a 50-yarder) at Stanford. He had an 11-yard catch versus Arizona State. At UCLA, he had 4 catches for a game-high 94 yards and leaped high for a 34-yard TD catch on the game's first play. He had 3 catches for 12 yards against Notre Dame to get a share of the USC career reception record and the Pac-10 and NCAA records for consecutive games with a reception (he also returned 2 punts for 11 yards). Against Iowa in the Orange Bowl, he had 3 catches for 74 yards (including a 65-yarder on USC's first play to set up a TD) to set an NCAA record for consecutive games with a catch (47) en route to becoming Troy's career reception leader (204). He was invited to play in the 2003 East-West Shrine Game
.
). He is second on the USC list for receiving yards (3,104), behind Johnnie Morton
's 3,201. He had a catch in all 48 games he played as a Trojan, tying the Pac-10 record with Keenan Howry
of Oregon, which has since been broken by Michael Larkin of Miami University
.
by the New Orleans Saints. Kelly played in all four preseason games, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. He has been on the practice squad for the Baltimore Ravens
and Chicago Bears
. He signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League on November 2, 2005. While with the Avengers he was one of three former Trojan teammates on the roster: fullback
/linebacker Lonnie Ford
and offensive/defensive lineman Bernard Riley
. He signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders
of the Canadian Football League
in May 2006, but was cut. He later retired from football but returned to sign a contract with the Las Vegas Locomotives
of the United Football League in 2010. He was released in July 2010.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at USC.
He has also been a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, Los Angeles Avengers
Los Angeles Avengers
The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:...
of the Arena Football League, the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
and Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, and the Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
of the United Football League.
Football
He played football at the high school level at Long Beach Polytechnic High SchoolLong Beach Polytechnic High School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School, founded in 1895 as Long Beach High School, is a High school located at 1600 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, California, United States....
in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. He was a 1998 Super Prep All-American, Prep Star Dream Team Top 100, ESPN Top 100, The Sporting News 101 Prime Prospects, Rivalnet Top 100, USA Today All-USA honorable mention, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-Western, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team (unanimous selection), Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Tacoma News Tribune
Tacoma News Tribune
The News Tribune is a daily newspaper in Tacoma, Washington, in the United States.-History:It can trace its origins back to the founding of the weekly Tacoma Ledger by R.F. Radabaugh in 1880. The next year, H.C. Patrick founded The News, another weekly. Both papers became dailies in 1883. In 1898,...
Western 100, Las Vegas Sun
Las Vegas Sun
The Las Vegas Sun is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. It is one of Las Vegas, Nevada's two daily newspapers. It is owned by the Greenspun family and is affiliated with Greenspun Media Group....
Super 11 first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State second team, All-CIF Southern Section first team, All-CIF Division I first team, Los Angeles Times All-South Coast/Southeast and Long Beach Press-Telegram
Long Beach Press-Telegram
The Press-Telegram is a daily newspaper published in Long Beach, California. Tracing its history to 1897, it is currently published by the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, a division of newspaper conglomerate MediaNews Group, which purchased the newspaper from Knight Ridder in 1997; Ridder and Knight...
Dream Team first team as a senior at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High. In 1998, he had 50 receptions for 1,096 yards (21.9 avg.) and 17 TDs. He had one game with 8 catches for 181 yards and 3 TDs. Long Beach Poly was a CIF Division I finalist.
As a 1997 junior, he made All-CIF Southern Section second team, All-CIF Division I first team, Long Beach Press-Telegram second team and All-League while catching 43 passes for 560 yards (13.0 avg.) and 9 TDs. Long Beach Poly was the CIF Division I champion. In his 3-year career, his team went 36-5. Current Trojans DeShaun Hill, Mike Pollard, Darrell Rideaux, Hershel Dennis
Hershel Dennis
Hershel Dennis Jr. is a running back for the Sioux Falls Storm in the Indoor Football League . Dennis played college football running back as a student athlete at the University of Southern California...
and former Trojan Winston Justice
Winston Justice
Winston Frederick Justice is an American football offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
also prepped at Long Beach Poly.
Track
He also starred on the schools track team, which won the 1997 and 1998 state titles. As a junior, he was the 1998 state 200-meter champion in a meet-record 20.76 and a member of the state winning 400-meter relay squad. As a senior at the 1999 Arcadia Invitational, he was first in the 200 meters (21.27). At the 1999 CIF Division I meet, he was second in the 100 (10.54) and 200 (21.04), and ran on the winning 400 meter relay quartet. At the 1999 CIF Masters meet, he won the 100 (10.30, tied for 12th in the world on the under-20 windy list in 1999) and 200 (20.61, fourth fastest under-20 windy mark in the world in 1999) and ran a leg on Poly's state record setting victorious 400 meter relay team (40.14). He was the 1999 state champion in the 100 (10.47) and 200 (20.76), and ran a leg on the state meet record setting 400 meter relay squad (40.33). His best times are 10.28 in the 100 meters (the top time in the state in 1998) and 20.53 in the 200.Football
Kelly played college football and ran track at the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and is #3 on the Trojans all-time receiving list with 204 catches; during his tenure at USC he set the school-record for consecutive games with a catch (48), which has since been broken.
Freshman (1999)
In 1999, Kelly had the best season that any Pac-10 freshman wide receiver ever had. As the often-used backup to Windrell Hayes (he even started the Oregon State and ArizonaUniversity of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
games when Hayes was injured), he appeared in all 12 games in 1999 and caught 54 passes (second on USC) for a team-best 902 yards (team-high 16.7 avg.) with 4 TDs. He set Pac-10 and USC freshman records for most catches (54, 11th on USC's single season chart) and receiving yards (902, the most by a Trojan since Keyshawn Johnson
Keyshawn Johnson
Joseph Keyshawn Johnson is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN. He retired from football on May 23, 2007 after an eleven-year career in the National Football League...
had 1,434 in 1995). He was third in the Pac-10 in receiving yards (75.2). He was the only Trojan with a catch in every game in 1999. He had 4 outings with 100 receiving yards (104 at University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
, 100 at Arizona, 129 against Stanford and 170 at Cal
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
). He was named the 1999 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and to the 1999 The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
Freshman All-American second team. He also returned 5 punts for 14 yards (2.8 avg.) and ran 2 reverses for 17 yards (8.5 avg.). He began his USC career catching 5 passes for a game-best 104 yards at Hawaii. Against San Diego State, he had 6 catches for 98 yards (both game highs), including a 13-yard TD in the fourth quarter (the game's decisive points) as he outleaped an Aztec defender (who ripped off his helmet on the tackle). He had 5 catches for 87 yards at University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, 3 receptions for 56 yards against Oregon State, and then 6 catches for 100 yards at Arizona. At Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, he hauled in a 58-yard pass to set up a score. He caught 8 passes for 129 yards (both game bests) against Stanford, then had 9 catches for 170 yards (both career and game bests) with a 72-yard TD (a USC 1999 long reception) at Cal. He had 6 catches for 51 yards against Arizona State, added a 10-yard reception at Washington State, had 3 grabs for 32 yards (with a 22-yard touchdown) against UCLA and 1 for 7 yards versus Louisiana Tech.
Sophomore (2000)
Kelly started at wide receiver as a sophomore in 2000. He started 8 times (Penn State, ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, San Jose State, Oregon State, Stanford, Arizona State, UCLA and Notre Dame) at split end and once (California) at flanker. He missed the Arizona game after spraining his ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
and straining his quadriceps at Oregon State. He was the much-used backup in the other 2 games (Oregon and Washington State
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
). Overall in 2000 while appearing in 11 games, he led USC in receptions (55) and yardage (796 yards) for a 14.5 average with 4 TDs. He also carried the ball 5 times on reverses for 8 yards (1.6 avg.) and returned 6 punts for 22 yards (3.7 avg.). His 55 catches in 2000 is tied for 10th on USC's season list and is the most ever by a USC sophomore. By the end of 2000, he had 109 career receptions for 1,698 yards, with both marks being the most by a Trojan at the end of his sophomore season. Kelly had 2 catches for 15 yards against Penn State, then a career-best 10 catches for 145 yards (both game highs) against Colorado. Against San Jose State, he had a game-high 7 catches for 106 yards (including a 61-yard TD). He had 1 for 11 yards at Oregon State before suffering a strained right quad which sidelined him for the Arizona contest. He returned for the Oregon game and had 3 catches for 45 yards. He had a team-best 4 catches for 51 yards at Stanford, then a game-high 5 catches for 42 yards against California (he also had 2 carries for 8 yards) and 6 receptions for a game-high 85 yards at Arizona State. He had a game-high 7 catches for 114 yards (with a 34-yard TD) against Washington State, then a game-high 6 catches for 91 yards (with a 39-yard TD) at UCLA and 4 catches for a game-best 91 yards (with a 59-yard TD) against Notre Dame.
Junior (2001)
Kelly started for his third season at wide receiver (split end) as a junior in 2001. Overall in 2001 while appearing in all 12 games (he did not start against Arizona State and Arizona, but did play), he had a team-best 49 receptions for 801 yards (16.3 avg.) with 3 TDs, plus ran for 38 yards on 6 reverses (6.3 avg.) and returned 8 punts for 51 yards (6.4 avg.). He had a pair of 100-yard receiving games in 2001 (165 yards at Oregon and 127 yards versus Arizona State). He was on the "Watch List" for the 2001 Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver. He had 3 catches for 18 yards in the San Jose State opener and returned a punt 10 yards, then added 7 grabs for 75 yards (both game bests) against Kansas State. He had 4 catches for a game-high 165 yards at Oregon, including a 93-yard TD (the longest catch of his career). He had a game-high 6 receptions for 46 yards against Stanford. At WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, he caught 3 passes for 93 yards, including a 58-yard TD. He added 5 receptions for 127 yards (both game highs) versus Arizona State, 2 catches for 16 yards at Notre Dame, 5 grabs for 64 yards (both team bests) at Arizona and 5 catches for 73 yards (both team highs) against Oregon State. At California, he caught a team-best 4 passes for a game-high 88 yards, including a 5-yard TD, and also ran 2 reverses for 23 yards. He caught 2 passes for 3 yards against UCLA and ran 2 reverses for 6 yards. He added a team-high 3 receptions for 33 yards (with a 22-yarder) against Utah.
Senior (2002)
Kelly started for his fourth year at wide receiver as a senior in 2002. He also returned punts. He made 2002 All-Pac-10 honorable mention. Overall in 2002 while appearing in all 13 games, he had 46 receptions for 605 yards (13.2 avg.) with 4 TDs, plus he had a 1-yard run on a reverse and returned 11 punts for 76 yards (6.9 avg.). He did not start 2 mid-season games (Washington and Oregon), but he did play in those contests. He missed part of 2002 spring practice with a hamstring strain. He also has sprinted for the USC track team. He caught a game-best 6 passes for 66 yards with a TD against AuburnAuburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
and also returned 2 punts for 0 yards. He had 4 catches for 36 yards at Colorado and returned 4 punts for 31 yards. At Kansas State, he caught 3 passes for 42 yards and returned a punt 19 yards. He had a 6-yard catch against Oregon State. He had a game-best 8 catches for 66 yards at Washington State. He caught 3 passes for 19 yards against California, including a 6-yard TD. He caught a 16-yard pass against Washington. At Oregon, he had 6 receptions for 94 yards, with a 31-yard TD. He had 3 receptions for 69 yards (including a 50-yarder) at Stanford. He had an 11-yard catch versus Arizona State. At UCLA, he had 4 catches for a game-high 94 yards and leaped high for a 34-yard TD catch on the game's first play. He had 3 catches for 12 yards against Notre Dame to get a share of the USC career reception record and the Pac-10 and NCAA records for consecutive games with a reception (he also returned 2 punts for 11 yards). Against Iowa in the Orange Bowl, he had 3 catches for 74 yards (including a 65-yarder on USC's first play to set up a TD) to set an NCAA record for consecutive games with a catch (47) en route to becoming Troy's career reception leader (204). He was invited to play in the 2003 East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
.
Career
Kelly owns USC's career pass catching record (204 receptions, which was broken the next year by Keary ColbertKeary Colbert
Patrick Keary Jerel Colbert is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
). He is second on the USC list for receiving yards (3,104), behind Johnnie Morton
Johnnie Morton
Johnnie James "Big Play" Morton, Jr. is a former NFL wide receiver. Originally drafted by the Lions in the 1st round in the 1994 NFL Draft, he played in Detroit until 2002. He subsequently signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played for three seasons. In 2005, he signed with the San...
's 3,201. He had a catch in all 48 games he played as a Trojan, tying the Pac-10 record with Keenan Howry
Keenan Howry
Keenan Rashaun Howry is an American football wide receiver and kick returner who currently plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He attended the University of Oregon and was Joey Harrington's favorite target. Howry played in the NFL for three years, with the Minnesota...
of Oregon, which has since been broken by Michael Larkin of Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
.
Sophomore (2000)
In the spring of 2000, he competed in February and March before having to sit out because of eligibility reasons. In his Trojan sprinting debut, he clocked a world junior record and American collegiate record 5.67 to place second in the 50-meter dash in the Los Angeles Indoor Invitational (it was tied for the ninth fastest time in the world in 2000). He then won a heat in the 100 meters at the Trojan Invitational in 10.33 and was fifth in the 100 meters at the ASU USTCA Invitational in 10.57. He also anchored the victorious 400-meter relay teams at the Trojan Invitational (clocking a 40.08) and USC's Centennial Invitational (39.18). He qualified for the World Junior Championships in the 100 and 200.Junior (2001)
In the spring of 2001, he competed in a pair of March meets before spring football practice began. He won his heat in the 100 meters (10.53) at the Trojan Invitational. He also anchored USC's victorious 400-meter relay squads at the Trojan Invitational (40.29) and the USC-LSU Dual Meet (39.39). He did not return to the track squad after spring football drills because of a slight hamstring strain.Senior (2002)
In the spring of 2002, his only track appearance came as the anchor leg on USC's sprint relay team at the NCAA meet which finished fifth in 39.27 (the squad also was third in its heat in 39.28).Professional career
He was selected in the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
by the New Orleans Saints. Kelly played in all four preseason games, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. He has been on the practice squad for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
and Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League on November 2, 2005. While with the Avengers he was one of three former Trojan teammates on the roster: fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
/linebacker Lonnie Ford
Lonnie Ford
Lonnie Ford is an Arena Football League fullback–defensive end for the Los Angeles Avengers.-Professional career:Ford signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers following the 2002 NFL Draft, but was released...
and offensive/defensive lineman Bernard Riley
Bernard Riley
Bernard Riley is a former American football defensive lineman. He is currently the defensive line coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin in Martin, Tennessee.-Pro career:...
. He signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
in May 2006, but was cut. He later retired from football but returned to sign a contract with the Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
of the United Football League in 2010. He was released in July 2010.