Son of former NFL player gets Clemson offer

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sun Feb 19 19:42:14 GMT-04:00 2012

The past week has been busy one for Todd Kelly Todd Kelly
Defensive Back
5-11, 180
Knoxville, TN
View Full Profile , Jr.

The 2014 defensive back prospect out of Knoxville’s Webb School received seven official offers in a five-day span last week, including one from the Clemson Tigers.

“Clemson, Auburn, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Miss, St. and FSU all offered during the week,” Kelly told TigerNet late last week. “It’s really crazy and exciting, but at the same time I am very humbled by it. Once I got that first offer, I think a lot of people were wondering, ‘Is this kid good or not?’ But I think my sophomore highlights are showing what I can do.”

Kelly is a two-year starter at safety, and as a sophomore he recorded 55 tackles, four tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble. He also rushed for 700-plus yards and 13 touchdowns on offense.

Kelly's father, Todd Kelly Sr., played outside linebacker for the Tennessee Volunteers from 1989-92. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1993 NFL draft, but also spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons.

Kelly said he is too young to remember his father’s playing days.

“I didn’t get to see him play, but I did get to see his highlight film from college,” Kelly said. “I told him I was going to make one better than him.”

He said that he actually gets as much recruiting advice from his mother as he does from his father, and that his dad hasn’t tried to steer him toward the Vols.

“He gives me advice, but he has also taught me to trust myself,” he said. “He knows this is my decision and this is about me. He is taking me on the visits, but when it comes to calling the coaches and contacting these schools, it is all on me. I have to take the initiative.

“I didn’t really have a favorite team growing up, but I always went to Tennessee games because of my dad. But now that I am a prospect, I have to look at everything on a national scale. I am going to take all my visits. There are no leaders at this point because it is so early. I want to take all the visits and find the right school for me.”

Kelly has already taken a visit to Clemson, in late January, and came away impressed with the Tigers.

“I took a visit up there three weeks ago, and I think Clemson is awesome,” he said. “I like the staff a lot. I got to talk to most of the staff when I was there. They gave me a tour of the facilities and showed me everything. I really liked it a lot, and I am definitely going to try and get to Clemson again.”