The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Pros: Kelly has the length and size to go across the middle, as well as the speed and athleticism to be a factor down the field. He is quicker than one might expect for a man of his size, as he smoothly goes in and out of his breaks— a dangerous weapon after the catch. As a pass catcher, the former Sooner possesses excellent hands that are big, strong and soft. This allows him to protect the football and make all the catches—over the shoulder, in a crowd, or on an off-target throw. He is especially adept at going up and getting the high ones and has a good understanding of how to use his body to stay between the defender and the ball. He’s a solid blocker who gives a good effort and is physical, with the upside to get even better and make an impact in the run game.

Cons: Consistency is one issue Kelly will have to work on. He often puts together brilliant games, but will have a couple where he is almost invisible. As a sophomore, he had two games where he made just one grab and four times had 31 receiving yards or less. Though he was more consistent as a junior, Kelly still had four games of less than 50 receiving yards and would still disappear for stretches. Kelly also lacks blazing speed. As a true junior, Kelly is a bit raw and he needs to work on refining his technique, particularly his route running. Despite his size, some are concerned about his durability—he’s missed three games in two years and was not able to participate at the NFL Scouting Combine or the scheduled Pro Day at Oklahoma, which could affect his draft stock.

Medical Examiner:

• 1/1/07—Suffered a partially torn knee ligament and missed most of the Fiesta Bowl. Had successful surgery during the off-season and was fully recovered in time for the beginning of his senior season

• 1/2/08—Suffered a deep thigh bruise in practice a few days prior; Kelly was a game-time decision for the Fiesta Bowl and had to leave the game after the first series for fear of further injury.

Overall: Considering the lack of consistency from Oklahoma quarterbacks in Kelly’s first two seasons, his numbers as a freshman and sophomore are that much more impressive—he became the fastest Sooner in history to reach 1,000 receiving yards. This makes one wonder why he didn’t have a bigger junior campaign with the breakout season Sam Bradford had as the Sooners’ signal caller. Nevertheless, he has done enough in terms of productivity to back up his potential and make him a legitimate first rounder. The best is yet to come.

Murphy’s View: Oklahoma junior Malcolm Kelly could be the first receiver off the board. He has great size (6-4, 218 pounds), big hands and a long stride. He has big-play ability, catches well, and runs tight routes. Some scouts believe he has first-round skills, but disappears for stretches of games.

Mogollon’s View: You can call Kelly Mr. Smooth, because he is such a natural athlete and he looks so effortless with every motion. No one in this draft has stronger or better hands than Kelly. He will be a force in a West Coast Offense with his size and ability after the catch—can you say, “slant”? He possesses all the tools to be a star in the pro ranks. Don’t expect Kelly to win rookie of the year honors, but by year three there is little doubt he will be the top receiver in the Class of ‘08.

Factoid: Less than a month after he announced his decision to turn pro, Kelly publicly endorsed the global charity Mercy Ships. He is the first professional athlete to back the charity, which is the worldwide leader in using hospital ships to deliver world-class healthcare and community development services to poor communities around the world.

X-Factor: There are concerns surrounding the medical status of Kelly’s knees.

Highlights of Accomplishments:

• 2006 & 2007 Second Team All-Big 12

• 2005 All-Big 12 Freshman Team

High School: Played wide receiver at Longview High School in Longview, TX. Kelly recorded 56 catches for 1,466 yards and 15 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons and was named a first team all-state selection both years.