Ryan Kelly
Bio
Lakota West Class of 2011: Football
As a junior at Lakota West in 2009, Ryan Kelly was a first team all-conference and all-city selection on the offensive line. During his senior season, he suffered a torn ACL in the last game of his season. Although selected, he was unable to play at the Under Armour All-America Game c oming off his knee injury. Rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN , Ryan was ranked as the No. 4 center prospect in his class.
After redshirting his initial year in Tuscaloosa, Ryan came off the bench to play in 10 games of the 2012 season at center, backing up All-American senior Barrett Jones at Alabama. Ryan was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. In his sophomore year, Ryan took over starting duties. As a junior, Ryan was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list and started 12 games at center. A highly reliable anchor on the offensive line, he missed just seven assignments in 806 snaps on the year for a 99.1 percent success rate and did not allow a quarterback sack . In his senior season, Ryan missed only eight assignments in 1,012 snaps for a success rate of 99.2 percent on the season, and committed just one penalty in 1,012 snaps with no holding calls. He was a consensus first team All-America selection, earning first-team honors from Walter Camp, USA Today, Sporting News, the FWAA, and the AFCA, and won the Rimington Trophy in 2015. He was a member of Alabama's BCS National Championships in 2011 and 2012 and the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2015. Ryan earned his bachelor's and Master's degree in marketing from Alabama.
The Indianapolis Colts selected Ryan in the first round (18th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft . The Colts drafted him with the expectation of him becoming "the first solid center for the franchise since Jeff Saturday ." He has played in 35 games for the Colts over 3 seasons.
Favorites
BOOK FOR LEADERS: Make Your Bed by William H McRaven
ATHLETE: Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas (or any professional golfer)
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM: Indianapolis Colts
SPORTS MOVIE: Remember the Titans
FAVORITE PODCAST: Joe Rogan
SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: ryan_kelly70 Facebook: Ryan Kelly Instagram: ryankelly70
QUOTE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU:
"What you do speaks so loudly that I can't hear what you are saying." -Nick Saban
IF YOU KNEW THEN WHAT YOU KNOW NOW…WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE HIGH SCHOOL RYAN?:
1. Try a little harder in school.
2. Cherish the memories, it goes by so fast.
THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A FIREBIRD WAS… TRADITION.
CURRENT JOB: Center, Indianapolis Colts
FUN FACTS: If Ryan could go pro in anything besides football, he would love to be a professional bass fisherman or pro golfer.