If your favorite NFL team is looking for a versatile running back who can do it all, UCLA’s Joshua Kelley checks every box.
A complete prospect who is as well-rounded off the field as he is on the gridiron, Kelley recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, how playing at UCLA prepared him for the next level, and what off-field passions he enjoys most.
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
JK: It was awesome. Just being there, I had a chance to meet some Hall of Famers. It was excellent. I got to hang and chat with some legends out there. It gave me a chance to be in front of all those guys. There were so many great players out there. The running back group was especially awesome and full of talent. I enjoyed getting to know those guys. I had a lot of fun competing. It was a great experience.
JM: Not only did you compete, you went out there and turned some heads. You ran the 40-yard dash in a solid 4.49 seconds, and stood out in some of the other drills, as well. How do you grade your overall performance?
JK: Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate that. If I had to grade myself, I would give myself a C.
JM: That’s rough. You don’t think you deserve better?
JK: I felt like I did well in certain areas, but I’m never satisfied. I have to keep pushing the standard. I hold myself to a high regard. Nobody expects greatness from me more than I do. That’s just me. There were a lot of guys that did really well out there. We did well as a position group. I’m never satisfied.
JM: As you look back on the entire process, from the drills to the interviews, what do you feel is the overall impression you left out there?
JK: I just wanted people to get to know who I am. Whether it was a scout or a coach that I met with, I just wanted them to get to know me as a guy that loves playing the game of football. I love to compete. I have a winning mindset. I just wanted my personality to shine through. I wanted to show them that I could play the game at a high level as well. I can compete and I can do the things that they’re looking for. Those were my goals for the week. I enjoyed getting to know the coaches I met with. I just wanted them to see who I am as a person.
JM: That’s the perfect way to approach the week. Did you have many formal or informal meetings out there?
JK: I had a lot of informals. From the Senior Bowl to the combine, I’ve probably met with all 32 teams informally. The Senior Bowl was great for that. It prepared me so well for the combine. At the combine itself, I had formals with the Cowboys and the Rams. I loved both of their coaching staffs. They were so awesome. I enjoyed both of those meetings. I had a lot of fun. My Pro Day is coming up on March 24th and I’m just locked in on that right now. I’ll start taking my team visits after that.
JM: The Senior Bowl is great for that. It really gets you ready for the rest of the process.
JK: I definitely felt better prepared. You understand how it works. You realize that you’re not gonna get a lot of sleep (laughs). You’re gonna be up doing interviews and psychological testing. I felt very well prepared.
JM: What’s the strangest question you’ve been asked throughout this process? Every year we hear a report of a guy getting asked something really weird.
JK: Honestly, I didn’t get any weird questions. Everybody told me about that. Everybody warned me that there’s always that one weird question. I was so ready for a weird question but it never came (laughs). I was just sitting there waiting like here it comes. It has to be here somewhere, right? Nope. I was just asked questions about my personality and my role as a football player. They asked me a little about my passions outside of football. Everything was normal.
JM: Speaking of your passions, I read that you’re really into anime and reading. I find that interesting. Do you watch or read anime? Or is it both?
JK: It’s both. I love watching anime. That’s just something that I’ve always done. I grew up on Dragon Ball Z and Naraku. It’s always been a passion of mine. I love watching it. It actually relaxes me. I love it. I’m really into the story-lines and everything. It’s just so cool to me. I also read anime. I read a lot of books. It’s definitely something that I really like (laughs).
JM: What are some of your favorite books that aren’t anime?
JK: I really enjoyed “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” I read “As A Man Thinketh.” I love “The Catcher in the Rye.” That’s a great book. “Fahrenheit 451” was another good one. I love reading books. I really started to read more in high school and it’s a habit that I’ve had ever since.
JM: That’s a nice mixture of Sci-Fi and self-improvement.
JK: Yeah, exactly. You have to be well-rounded. It’s all about having versatility.
JM: You’re just as versatile on the field.
JK: Exactly, man (laughs). It’s all about that versatility. I love that.
JM: I know you’ll be happy to play anywhere, but is there one NFL quarterback that makes you think, “Wow, it would be cool to have that guy hand off the ball to me?”
JK: It has to be Tom Brady for me. That would really be something man, wow. That’s the GOAT right there. That would be crazy to me. Russell Wilson is another one. I feel like we share a lot of the same values and level of work ethic. We’re both very competitive people. Either one of those guys would be so cool to me. Those are two great leaders right there. That would be so awesome (laughs).
JM: What’s the biggest lesson any coach at UCLA ever taught you?
JK: I want to share lessons that I learned from both of the head coaches I played for. Coach [Jim] Mora and coach [Chip] Kelly are both amazing coaches and I’ve learned so much from both of those guys.
The thing that stands out about Coach Mora is that he would emphasis and make sure that we were taking time out every single day to master our positions. He taught me to understand and value the little things. I thought that was a really important lesson for me to learn. He’s a guy that’s been coaching the game at the highest levels for such a long time. He’s been around the game for so long and that really stood out me. We all play the game but we don’t all understand what our true position is. Master your position. Do you understand all of the little things that goes into it? Master the details.
As for coach Kelly, he was all about how to handle adversity. He taught us how to approach adversity. He taught me how to approach the game in a way that would help me off the field as well. He was all about creating good habits that we could carry with us in every day life. Both of those coaches were so awesome. I learned a lot from both of them.
JM: What kind of a person is a team getting when they draft Joshua Kelly?
JK: They’re gonna get a guy that loves to work hard. My work ethic is impeccable. I love the game of football. I’m extremely passionate about it. I’m a consistent runner. Consistency is the key. I’m always looking to get North-South. I like to keep my feet churning after contact. I don’t fumble the ball. I have great ball security. You’re getting a guy that truly loves the game. I’m competitive and consistent. I’m gonna give it my all for whichever organization I end up with. I’ll embrace any and every opportunity I get. I’m a silly guy (laughs). I have a lot of personality but I take this game very seriously. I’m very excited for what’s next.
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