Kelvin Hayden
Encyclopedia
Kelvin Darnell Hayden, Jr. (born July 28, 1983) is an American football
cornerback
for the Atlanta Falcons
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft
out of the University of Illinois
. He returned a Rex Grossman
interception 56 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI
. It was his first career interception.
, and was a four-year starter in football. As a freshman cornerback, he was a first team All-PowerBar team selection and an All-Area selection after posting ten interceptions. As a sophomore quarterback
, he passed for 21 touchdowns and rushed for seven more scores. As a junior tailback
, he rushed for 2135 yards (1,952.2 m), and was an All-Conference pick and an All-Area selection.
for two years, where he finished his career with 115 receptions for 1,839 yards (16.13 yards per rec. avg.) and 17 touchdowns and was a two-time All-Conference and an All-Region pick. After losing his first junior college game, he led Joliet JC to 21 consecutive victories and the 2002 NJCAA National Championship.
As a sophomore, he was the NJCAA National Offensive National Player of the Year, won first team JC All-America accolades, and was named the Conference Player of the Year, after making 72 receptions for 1,297 yards(18.1 yards per rec. avg.) and 13 touchdowns. He was also named the MVP of the 2002 NCAA National Championship game. As a freshman, he made 42 receptions for 542 yards (12.9 yards per rec. avg.) and four touchdowns. He then transferred to Illinois.
in receptions and receiving yards with 52 receptions for 592 yards. Prior the the 2004 season, he switched to cornerback. He started all 11 games and had 71 tackles and four interceptions.
and played there for his first six years before signing with the Atlanta Falcons
.
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...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South 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...
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
out of the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. He returned a Rex Grossman
Rex Grossman
Rex Daniel Grossman, III is an American football quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League . Grossman played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Washington Redskins of...
interception 56 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
. It was his first career interception.
Early years
Hayden attended Hubbard High School in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and was a four-year starter in football. As a freshman cornerback, he was a first team All-PowerBar team selection and an All-Area selection after posting ten interceptions. As a sophomore quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, he passed for 21 touchdowns and rushed for seven more scores. As a junior tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
, he rushed for 2135 yards (1,952.2 m), and was an All-Conference pick and an All-Area selection.
Joliet Junior College
Hayden attended Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College , a community college based in Joliet, Illinois, was the first public community college founded in the United States. JJC offers pre-baccalaureate programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university, as well as occupational education leading directly to...
for two years, where he finished his career with 115 receptions for 1,839 yards (16.13 yards per rec. avg.) and 17 touchdowns and was a two-time All-Conference and an All-Region pick. After losing his first junior college game, he led Joliet JC to 21 consecutive victories and the 2002 NJCAA National Championship.
As a sophomore, he was the NJCAA National Offensive National Player of the Year, won first team JC All-America accolades, and was named the Conference Player of the Year, after making 72 receptions for 1,297 yards(18.1 yards per rec. avg.) and 13 touchdowns. He was also named the MVP of the 2002 NCAA National Championship game. As a freshman, he made 42 receptions for 542 yards (12.9 yards per rec. avg.) and four touchdowns. He then transferred to Illinois.
University of Illinois
In 2003, Hayden led the Fighting IlliniIllinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
in receptions and receiving yards with 52 receptions for 592 yards. Prior the the 2004 season, he switched to cornerback. He started all 11 games and had 71 tackles and four interceptions.
Professional career
Hayden was drafted by the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
and played there for his first six years before signing with the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.