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Kevin Kelly (American football)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Patrick Kelly is a former four-year starting placekicker
for coach Joe Paterno
's Penn State Nittany Lions football
team. He is from Bristol
, Pennsylvania. A kinesiology
major, he is the all-time leading scorer for the Nittany Lions and the all-time leading scorer in Big Ten football history.
. He accepted a scholarship offer from Penn State over the Syracuse Orange and Delaware Blue Hens. Kelly claimed the starting placekicker position during pre-season training. He became the first true freshman since Craig Fayak to be the starting kicker in the season opening game against the South Florida Bulls
. Kelly would go on to break Fayak's team freshmen scoring record. He also kicked the game winning 29 yard field goal
in the 2006 Orange Bowl
against the Florida State Seminoles
. Kelly finished the season with 16 field goals in 23 attempts.
Kevin Kelly's second season at Penn State ended with him earning a place on the Academic All-Big Ten team. He was 22 of 34 in field goals and was perfect on 30 extra point attempts. He kicked two career-long field goals of 49 yards, one against the Illinois Fighting Illini
that led the Nittany Lions to an important come from behind victory. He kicked two field goals against the Tennessee Volunteers
in the 2007 Outback Bowl
.
Kelly became Penn State's all-time leading scorer on November 10, 2007 against the Temple Owls
in Lincoln Financial Field
, Philadelphia near his hometown of Langhorne. He reached this mark before the end of his junior season and continued to build on it against Michigan State
and in the 2007 Alamo Bowl
against the Texas A&M Aggies
. In fact, Kelly scored his first career touchdown against Michigan State on a fake field goal, taking a direct snap from the center
and running into the end zone
.
Kelly began the 2008 season on the Lou Groza Award
watchlist. His 4-field goal, 5-extra point performance in Penn State's 46-17 win versus Michigan earned him Big Ten
Specialist of the Week honors. Kelly finished that game with 376 career kicking points, making him the Big Ten's all-time kick scoring leader. He broke the previous mark of 367 points held by Minnesota
's Dan Nystrom and Iowa
's Nate Kaeding
.
At season's end, he was named a consensus first team All-Big Ten selection, and recipient of a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award for the 2008-09 academic year.
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
for coach Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
's Penn State Nittany Lions football
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
team. He is from Bristol
Bristol, Pennsylvania
Bristol is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Philadelphia opposite Burlington, N.J. on the Delaware River. Bristol was first incorporated in 1720. Although its charter was revised in 1905, the original charter remains in effect, making Bristol one of the older boroughs in...
, Pennsylvania. A kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
major, he is the all-time leading scorer for the Nittany Lions and the all-time leading scorer in Big Ten football history.
College career
Kevin Kelly was lightly recruited coming out of Neshaminy High SchoolNeshaminy High School
Neshaminy High School is a large public high school in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, located on Old Lincoln Highway.-Facilities:Neshaminy High School consists of one main hallway, with hallways branching off of the main by department, arranging classes of similar types in the same region of the...
. He accepted a scholarship offer from Penn State over the Syracuse Orange and Delaware Blue Hens. Kelly claimed the starting placekicker position during pre-season training. He became the first true freshman since Craig Fayak to be the starting kicker in the season opening game against the South Florida Bulls
South Florida Bulls football
The South Florida Bulls are a Division I FBS college football program that plays its home games in Tampa, Florida. The team began playing in 1997, holding its first team meeting under a shade tree as the school had no proper football facilities on campus...
. Kelly would go on to break Fayak's team freshmen scoring record. He also kicked the game winning 29 yard field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
in the 2006 Orange Bowl
2006 Orange Bowl
The 2006 Orange Bowl, a 2005-2006 BCS game, was played on January 3, 2006. This 72nd edition to the Orange Bowl featured the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Florida State Seminoles....
against the Florida State Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. Kelly finished the season with 16 field goals in 23 attempts.
Kevin Kelly's second season at Penn State ended with him earning a place on the Academic All-Big Ten team. He was 22 of 34 in field goals and was perfect on 30 extra point attempts. He kicked two career-long field goals of 49 yards, one against the Illinois Fighting Illini
2006 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
The 2006 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 2006–2007 college football season. The team's head coach was Ron Zook, who was in his second season with the Illini. Illinois had a record of 2–10, as they did the year before...
that led the Nittany Lions to an important come from behind victory. He kicked two field goals against the Tennessee Volunteers
2006 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 2006 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the college football season of 2006–2007. Tennessee entered the 2006 season coming off an 5–6 record in 2005...
in the 2007 Outback Bowl
2007 Outback Bowl
The 2007 Outback Bowl Game was a college football bowl game sponsored by Outback Steakhouse. It was part of the 2006–2007 bowl game season that concluded the 2006 NCAA Division I-BS football season. The Outback Bowl has been played annually since 1986...
.
Kelly became Penn State's all-time leading scorer on November 10, 2007 against the Temple Owls
Temple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
in Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532 . It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th streets, also aside I-95 as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
, Philadelphia near his hometown of Langhorne. He reached this mark before the end of his junior season and continued to build on it against Michigan State
2007 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 2007 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2007–2008 college football season. Mark Dantonio began his first season as the Spartans' head coach. The Spartans play their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.-Schedule:-2008 NFL...
and in the 2007 Alamo Bowl
2007 Alamo Bowl
The 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl is a college football bowl game that was part of the 2007–2008 bowl season of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 15th Alamo Bowl and the first Alamo Bowl sponsored by the Valero Energy Corporation...
against the Texas A&M Aggies
2007 Texas A&M Aggies football team
The 2007 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2007-2008 college football season. The team was coached by Dennis Franchione, who had coached at A&M since the 2003 season, but resigned at the conclusion of the annual game with the University of Texas...
. In fact, Kelly scored his first career touchdown against Michigan State on a fake field goal, taking a direct snap from the center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
and running into the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
.
Kelly began the 2008 season on the Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
watchlist. His 4-field goal, 5-extra point performance in Penn State's 46-17 win versus Michigan earned him Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Specialist of the Week honors. Kelly finished that game with 376 career kicking points, making him the Big Ten's all-time kick scoring leader. He broke the previous mark of 367 points held by Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
's Dan Nystrom and Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
's Nate Kaeding
Nate Kaeding
Nathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
.
At season's end, he was named a consensus first team All-Big Ten selection, and recipient of a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award for the 2008-09 academic year.