Center | Alabama | Senior
Height: 6 feet, 4 inches | Weight:311 pounds
College stats
2015: won the Rimington Trophy (presented annually to the nation's top center); anchored the offensive line for the College Football Playoff national champs; helped running back Derrick Henry lead FBS with 2,219 rushing yards and win the Heisman Trophy; named to multiple All-America teams and All-SEC First Team; won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (top lineman in SEC); selected as SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year
Career:started all 36 games he played in his final three seasons and appeared in a total of 46 games after redshirting in 2011; backed up fellow Rimington Trophy winner Barrett Jones in 2012 and earned selection to the SEC All-Freshman team; helped Alabama average more than 200 rushing yards per game in each of his three seasons as a starter (205.6 in 2013, 206.6 in 2014 and 204.4 last season)
Combine results
40-yard dash: 5.03 seconds
Bench press: 26 repetitions of 225 pounds
Vertical jump: N/A
Broad jump: 8 feet, 7 inches
3-cone drill: 7.58 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.59 seconds
60-yard shuttle: N/A
Profile
Summary: Kelly has received credit for combining physical ability with mental aptitude. He handled the protection calls for Alabama's offensive line and was effective in protecting three different quarterbacks (A.J. McCarron, Blake Sims and Jake Coker). Kelly also helped 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry tie the SEC record (co-held by Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson) of four games in one season with 200 or more rushing yards. According to his Crimson Tide bio, Kelly was assessed with just 15 missed assignments in 1,818 snaps in his final two seasons (success rate of 99.2 percent). Kelly lettered on teams that won two national titles and three SEC titles in four seasons.
Viewed as a center, Kelly played also played guard and tackle in high school at Lakota West in West Chester, Ohio. He believes he still has that versatility if needed.
Stacking up:NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock ranked Kelly as his top center before and after the combine. Counterpart Bucky Brooks listed Kelly as his top center, as well, but combined guards and centers in his rankings, listing Kelly fourth overall in the prospects. Daniel Jeremiah listed Kelly at No. 21 in his list of the top 50 draft-eligible prospects.
Challenging company:During his media session at the combine, Kelly was asked to name the toughest matchup he faced in college. After first saying he didn't know the answer, the center reverted to practices against Jarran Reed (will be in this series April 13) and A'Shawn Robinson (will be in this series April 20).
"I would say our defensive line. You're going against Jarran Reed and A'Shawn Robinson every day, those guys are incredible. Going against those guys every day made us a better offensive line, made me a better player."
View images of Alabama C Ryan Kelly.