Chad Kelly is back

Many thought that Chad Kelly, shown here shortly after he was injured, would miss this season

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Tue Aug 27 15:42:15 GMT-04:00 2013

CLEMSON – Chad Kelly Chad Kelly
RS Fr. Quarterback
#11 6-2, 210
Buffalo, NY
View Full Profile is back.

The Tigers’ redshirt freshman quarterback may not be all the way back and 100 percent healthy, but Kelly was cleared by Clemson’s medical staff to play last week. This week, he is playing the part of Georgia’s Aaron Murray as Clemson prepares for the season opener this Saturday against Georgia.

Kelly’s journey is amazing, especially considering that he tore his ACL in April during Clemson’s Orange and White Game, and his surgery was performed just a little over four months ago.

Even more amazing is the fact that Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile says Kelly is available to play Saturday night if he is needed, something that Swinney didn’t think was possible when he saw Kelly in the locker room after the injury occurred.

“He is ready. It’s amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Swinney told the media Tuesday. “I give that young man credit. When I walked into the locker room after the Spring Game, Chad was just devastated after having such a good spring. He was devastated with his injury. I’m trying to talk to him and counsel him and he said, ‘I’ll be back for Georgia.’ And, I’m like, ‘Great, that’s the attitude you want and the one you need to have, but if you don’t make it back for Georgia you will be back soon.’ I was thinking October or November.”

Swinney credited Kelly’s focus and the work of the team’s medical staff for getting Kelly back in such a short timeframe.

“Our doctors and training staff have done a great job. He has worked his tail off,” Swinney said. “He has been relentless in his rehab. They cleared him to play the other day. He’s our third guy and if we need him, he will play. You’ve never seen a guy more happy than Chad Kelly. He’s done everything this week. He was the Georgia quarterback the other night in our mock game. I’ve never been around a guy that has worked this hard and come back this quickly.”

Starting quarterback Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS Sr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile says that having Kelly back – along with tight end Sam CooperSam Cooper
RS Jr. Tight End
#86 6-5, 250
Brentwood, TN
View Full Profile – pays dividends on and off the field, and that he can’t believe how quickly Kelly was cleared to play.

“Unbelievable. I haven’t seen anything like that,” Boyd said. “Just the way that he and Sam Cooper are fighting to get back, you can tell how competitive they are. They have done a great job on rehab and in the meeting rooms and leading as well. It’s also great to have Chad on the field – he can tell me what he sees.”

Linebacker Spencer ShueySpencer Shuey
Gr. Linebacker
#33 6-3, 230
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile has faced Kelly during practice, and he says that Kelly is close to returning to form.

“He is actually moving around pretty well,” Shuey said. “I am surprised at how fast they have got him to come back. I guess he has taken rehab seriously, and they’ve been able to get him out there quicker than people have expected. I feel like he is moving around pretty well – he definitely isn’t where he was before by any means, but he is definitely making steps in the right direction.”