JimBob
01-10-2008, 04:26 PM
OU's Malcolm Kelly to turn pro
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
1/10/2008 3:58 PM
Last Modified: 1/10/2008 5:06 PM
Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly has decided to leave school early and declare himself eligible for the 2008 NFL draft, Oklahoma announced on Thursday.
"I felt like the time was right to make this decision," Kelly said in a statement released by OU. "My family and I have talked it over for the last few days and decided this was the way to go. I've talked to a lot of guys who I trust who are playing in the NFL and I value their input."
Kelly, a junior from Longview, Texas, ranks second in school history in career receiving yards (2,285) and touchdown receptions (21) and stands fifth in career catches (144).
He also shares the school record with 11 catches in a game, as well as the records for catches (10) and yards (142) in the Big 12 championship game.
"We're excited for Malcolm and his family," OU coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. "He was an outstanding player in our program and we appreciate all of his efforts. We look forward to watching him in the NFL. He is well-suited to professional football in many ways and we are sure that the attributes that made him such a success for us will serve him equally well on that level."
Kelly has until Jan. 18 to withdraw his name for consideration.
Kelly could not be immediately reached for comment, but said in the statement he valued his time at OU.
"OU and the coaches there gave me the best opportunity to reach the pro level," Kelly said. "Going to OU was really the thing that put me in the position to be able to make this decision."
The 6-foot-4, 217-pound Kelly last month submitted a formal query to the NFL College Advisory Committee, requesting information on his potential draft status. He received his information this week and the committee, which is comprised of 12 NFL general managers/personnel directors and directors of the NFL's two scouting combines, projects him as a potential second-round draft pick.
After catching 62 passes for 993 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2006, Kelly finished with 49 catches, 821 yards and nine TDs in 2007 as junior Juaquin Iglesias emerged as the team's top pass-catcher.
Kelly became visibly frustrated during a 17-16 win at Texas A&M last year, in which he caught just one pass, and was more so in this season's 27-24 loss at Colorado, in which quarterback Sam Bradford never threw a pass to Kelly.
Kelly told the Tulsa World during the Fiesta Bowl media day on Dec. 31 that he thought he could improve his draft status by coming back for his senior year, but he also said, "I'm ready."
In a December interview with the Tulsa World, Kelly's father, Moses Kelly, said his son was considering the direction of the OU offense and his use in it as a factor in making his decision. "Is his school going to design more plays to get balls for him, or is he going to run down field the majority of time blocking, which is mostly what he did this season?" Moses Kelly said. "He started off catching more, but as the season went along, he didn't get more than two or three touches a game. If the defense adjusts like that again and they can't get the ball more to him, he has to think about, 'If I stay, what would be the benefit?' "
Kelly played only one series in the Fiesta Bowl because of a thigh injury.
Kelly started his junior season like a rocket, catching 12 passes for 307 yards and seven touchdowns in the Sooners' first three games. After getting shut out at Colorado, he caught five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown against Texas, then finished the second half of the season with just 27 receptions for 367 yards and two TDs in OU's final seven games.
He was a two-time second-team All-Big 12 performer, and was named honorable mention as a freshman.
Great news, this means a "job" opening at BRS&I for Granger to get on the dole.:D
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
1/10/2008 3:58 PM
Last Modified: 1/10/2008 5:06 PM
Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly has decided to leave school early and declare himself eligible for the 2008 NFL draft, Oklahoma announced on Thursday.
"I felt like the time was right to make this decision," Kelly said in a statement released by OU. "My family and I have talked it over for the last few days and decided this was the way to go. I've talked to a lot of guys who I trust who are playing in the NFL and I value their input."
Kelly, a junior from Longview, Texas, ranks second in school history in career receiving yards (2,285) and touchdown receptions (21) and stands fifth in career catches (144).
He also shares the school record with 11 catches in a game, as well as the records for catches (10) and yards (142) in the Big 12 championship game.
"We're excited for Malcolm and his family," OU coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. "He was an outstanding player in our program and we appreciate all of his efforts. We look forward to watching him in the NFL. He is well-suited to professional football in many ways and we are sure that the attributes that made him such a success for us will serve him equally well on that level."
Kelly has until Jan. 18 to withdraw his name for consideration.
Kelly could not be immediately reached for comment, but said in the statement he valued his time at OU.
"OU and the coaches there gave me the best opportunity to reach the pro level," Kelly said. "Going to OU was really the thing that put me in the position to be able to make this decision."
The 6-foot-4, 217-pound Kelly last month submitted a formal query to the NFL College Advisory Committee, requesting information on his potential draft status. He received his information this week and the committee, which is comprised of 12 NFL general managers/personnel directors and directors of the NFL's two scouting combines, projects him as a potential second-round draft pick.
After catching 62 passes for 993 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2006, Kelly finished with 49 catches, 821 yards and nine TDs in 2007 as junior Juaquin Iglesias emerged as the team's top pass-catcher.
Kelly became visibly frustrated during a 17-16 win at Texas A&M last year, in which he caught just one pass, and was more so in this season's 27-24 loss at Colorado, in which quarterback Sam Bradford never threw a pass to Kelly.
Kelly told the Tulsa World during the Fiesta Bowl media day on Dec. 31 that he thought he could improve his draft status by coming back for his senior year, but he also said, "I'm ready."
In a December interview with the Tulsa World, Kelly's father, Moses Kelly, said his son was considering the direction of the OU offense and his use in it as a factor in making his decision. "Is his school going to design more plays to get balls for him, or is he going to run down field the majority of time blocking, which is mostly what he did this season?" Moses Kelly said. "He started off catching more, but as the season went along, he didn't get more than two or three touches a game. If the defense adjusts like that again and they can't get the ball more to him, he has to think about, 'If I stay, what would be the benefit?' "
Kelly played only one series in the Fiesta Bowl because of a thigh injury.
Kelly started his junior season like a rocket, catching 12 passes for 307 yards and seven touchdowns in the Sooners' first three games. After getting shut out at Colorado, he caught five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown against Texas, then finished the second half of the season with just 27 receptions for 367 yards and two TDs in OU's final seven games.
He was a two-time second-team All-Big 12 performer, and was named honorable mention as a freshman.
Great news, this means a "job" opening at BRS&I for Granger to get on the dole.:D