NCAA Scouting - Player Profile:
Malcolm Kelly, WR
by Paul Hopkins
3/3/2008
 
Malcolm Kelly is one of the top receivers in this year's draft, but in terms of watching college football he may well have not been the most high-profile of players. In a programme renown for Adrian Peterson until last season, and then this year's emergence of freshman quarterback Sam Bradford, Kelly seems to have snuck under the radar somewhat.
 
Kelly did however, add a great deal to Oklahoma's offensive production during his three years at the Sooners from his split-end position, and this is reflected in his position as the school's all-time fifth leading receiver with 144 receptions.
 
He also ranks second on the Sooners' all-time record list for receiving yardage (2,285), touchdown catches (21) and games with at least 100 yards receiving (nine). His 21 scoring receptions also rank tied for seventh in Big Twelve Conference history.
 
When you consider these stats and that in the past two season, Kelly is credited with only two drops, it is little surprise to see him as one of the top receiving options this April.
 
In this latest profile, the Diner considers Kelly's ability and his chances of transferring this to the NFL in this 2008 draft class.
 
What we like about Kelly
 
Kelly is a playmaker, pure and simple. Get him the ball and he may well go all the way to the end zone.
 
He has the size, natural athleticism and physical tools to be a top receiver. Big strong hands, intelligent feet, a good leap, and a long running stride. This long stride masks what is quickness, but not elite speed.
 
His ability to adjust is first rate, and gives the quarterback confidence in his ability to haul in any pass. He also is not afraid to take a big hit in the middle of catching the ball. His strong hands enable him to pull in catches, particularly when in a crowd.
 
Kelly is also strong enough to beat the jam at the line of scrimmage, and, as with most receivers out of Oklahoma, he is effective at blocking for the run game.
 
Question marks over Kelly
 
Kelly is prone to being anonymous for long stretches in games and can frustrate with his anonymity at times.
 
At times he lacks the quick footwork needed to establish separation between him and the defensive back, and this will need to be improved if he is to thrive in the NFL, as his speed is not enough to do that alone.
 
NFL.com scouts report that Kelly will usually run crisp routes but he will glide out of his breaks, possibly because of the hip pointer he suffered vs. Oklahoma State.
 
Indeed having been injured during both Sooner Bowl games the NFL Network's Mike Mayock has reported that Kelly's knees "are of such concern" that some NFL teams may consider erasing him from their draft boards. Mayock continued to suggest there's a good chance that Kelly will last until the second round.
 
Highlight of his college career
 
In the 2007 season, Kelly's three touchdown catches vs. Miami was one shy of the Sooners game-record of four scores by Trent Smith, a mark made in 2001.
 
Other snippets

• Kelly became the fastest player in Oklahoma Sooners history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards when he did it in his 19th game in October 2006.

• Of players in the NFL, Kelly is comparable to Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals.

• Teams Kelly would be a good fit for: Tennessee, Buffalo, Dallas.

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