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SEC Football: New Starters Who Will Dominate in 2016 | Bleacher Report
Todd Kelly Jr., Tennessee Safety
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Todd Kelly Jr. is not a new name to Tennessee Volunteers fans, and he isn't a stranger to the football field, either.
Though he has patiently waited his turn behind departed seniors Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil, the junior legacy whose father was a standout defensive end under Johnny Majors before an NFL career, did log five starts over his first two years.
All he proved during his time in Knoxville is he has a nose for the ball, registering 79 tackles and corralling six interceptions to go along with four pass breakups and a fumble recovery. The seven turnovers during that span came for a defense that didn't force that many.
Now, the Vols welcome elite defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, who came down from Penn State, and with the veteran coach's history of producing star safeties, Kelly looks like a safe bet to be the next great one at UT.
At 5'11", 208 pounds, Kelly is built like an outside linebacker, and he packs the punch of one, too. He should have played and even started more under former coordinator John Jancek, but he was quizzically left off the field during too many crucial situations.
That won't happen this year. He and classmate Rashaan Gaulden, who is a redshirt sophomore, are two main reasons why the Vols aren't fretting the losses of Randolph and McNeil too much. They actually will get much more athletic on the back end in the process.
If you are looking for No. 6 to make some big plays in orange this year, you need to rewire your brain to focus on jersey 24 instead.
Kelly changed his number to honor friend and deceased Knoxville high school student Zaevion Dobson, who was killed protecting classmates from gunfire and received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at this year's ESPY Awards.
The nice tribute and added motivation is something that could fuel a huge season for Kelly. With Shoop on campus and talent all around him, 2016 looks like the year Kelly will break out.
I say that TKJ will lead the team in INTs you can book it.
Go Vols
Todd Kelly Jr., Tennessee Safety
Todd Kelly Jr. is not a new name to Tennessee Volunteers fans, and he isn't a stranger to the football field, either.
Though he has patiently waited his turn behind departed seniors Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil, the junior legacy whose father was a standout defensive end under Johnny Majors before an NFL career, did log five starts over his first two years.
All he proved during his time in Knoxville is he has a nose for the ball, registering 79 tackles and corralling six interceptions to go along with four pass breakups and a fumble recovery. The seven turnovers during that span came for a defense that didn't force that many.
Now, the Vols welcome elite defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, who came down from Penn State, and with the veteran coach's history of producing star safeties, Kelly looks like a safe bet to be the next great one at UT.
At 5'11", 208 pounds, Kelly is built like an outside linebacker, and he packs the punch of one, too. He should have played and even started more under former coordinator John Jancek, but he was quizzically left off the field during too many crucial situations.
That won't happen this year. He and classmate Rashaan Gaulden, who is a redshirt sophomore, are two main reasons why the Vols aren't fretting the losses of Randolph and McNeil too much. They actually will get much more athletic on the back end in the process.
If you are looking for No. 6 to make some big plays in orange this year, you need to rewire your brain to focus on jersey 24 instead.
Kelly changed his number to honor friend and deceased Knoxville high school student Zaevion Dobson, who was killed protecting classmates from gunfire and received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at this year's ESPY Awards.
The nice tribute and added motivation is something that could fuel a huge season for Kelly. With Shoop on campus and talent all around him, 2016 looks like the year Kelly will break out.
I say that TKJ will lead the team in INTs you can book it.
Go Vols
