Tag: Caleb Kelly

Oklahoma Football Notebook: Brian Odom, Caleb Kelly and Marcus Stripling talk Tuesday

Oklahoma inside linebackers coach Brian Odom, LB Caleb Kelly and DE/OLB Marcus Stripling met with the media on Tuesday.

Spring football for the Oklahoma Sooners is rolling on with the annual spring game less than three weeks away set for April 24 at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

As practices roll on, various coaches and players continue to be made available to the media to talk about the team for the first time of the new year. On Tuesday, inside linebackers coach Brian Odom, linebacker Caleb Kelly and defensive end/outside linebacker Marcus Stripling stepping up to the microphone to talk the latest with themselves and the team.

Here is some of what they had to say in the midst of the third full week of spring practices:

Oklahoma’s Caleb Kelly among former prospects who are down to their last chance

B/R lists Caleb Kelly among top prospects down to their final chance in ’21.

When it comes to the linebacker position at Oklahoma, plenty of names are mentioned at the top. Nik Bonitto, Brian Asamoah, David Ugwoegbu, DaShaun White, and the list goes on. One name that seems to be forgotten is former five-star prospect, Caleb Kelly.

It is relatively easy to overlook a player of his caliber when he hasn’t played more than four games in the last two years. After all, out of sight and out of mind. Kelly was listed among Bleacher Reports’ top prospects who are down to their final chance to shine.

The defender isn’t on a lot of radars after missing all but four games in 2019 and sitting out 2020 because of a knee injury. The last time he was a starter for the Sooners was in 2018, but before that, he was on the verge of being a star.

The No. 24 overall player and third-ranked outside linebacker in the 2016 recruiting class made an impact almost immediately.

During his first three seasons in Norman from 2016-18, Kelly appeared in 31 games. He accounted for 91 solo tackles, 123 total tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. When healthy, Kelly can contribute to the defense.

After sitting out the 2020 season after a knee injury, Caleb Kelly should be ready to return to the rotation to help out Alex Grinch’s unit.

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Oklahoma LB Caleb Kelly announces he’s returning for a sixth season at OU

Oklahoma linebacker Caleb Kelly announced on Twitter Saturday that he will be returning for a sixth season with the Sooners.

Oklahoma defeated Iowa State on Saturday to claim its sixth consecutive Big 12 championship. It was led by the defense, which has improved by leaps and bounds in the two years under Alex Grinch.

The Sooners will certainly hope to keep as many of the pieces from this defense together for next season as possible, since with another year in the system, they could have a chance to be a special team.

One guy they know will return hasn’t been on the field for one snap this season, linebacker Caleb Kelly. He went down with a season-ending injury in August, leaving some wondering if his career was over. But, he announced on Twitter he will return next year for his sixth season.

As Kelly notes, this will give him a chance to pick up an insane sixth Big 12 title ring should the Sooners win the league again next year. This is a nice piece of news for Oklahoma both from what Kelly could bring on the field but also as a veteran leader.

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Lincoln Riley announces 4 players who will miss a ‘substantial part of the season’

The injury bug had reportedly hit Oklahoma hard during fall camp, and those reports came to fruition. Lincoln Riley confirmed on Saturday.

The injury bug had reportedly hit Oklahoma hard during fall camp, and those reports came to fruition.

Caleb Kelly (ACL), Justin Harrington (ACL) and Marcus Hicks (Achilles) had all been injured according to multiple reports in the early stages of fall camp. Head coach Lincoln Riley hadn’t met with the media yet, and then ended the hiatus on Saturday.

He confirmed that Kelly, Harrington, Hicks and walk-on Cason Grant.

“All had some lower extremity injuries that required medical attention,” Riley said. “Those guys will all miss a substantial part of the season … but all those guys will be limited for an extended period.”

According to Riley, Harrington had suffered the injury before arriving on campus.

These aren’t four major impactful injuries, but losing Kelly with thin depth at linebacker could weigh heavily. Only DaShaun White and Brian Asamoah have meaningful experience playing at inside linebacker with former walk-on Brian Mead leading a group of players behind them that have not played a down at linebacker for Oklahoma.

The Sooners are scheduled to begin the 2020 season on Sept. 12 against Missouri State at home.

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Tuesday Big 12 morning rush: Oklahoma facing injury bug

The latest news from around the Big 12 Conference including the injury bug biting Oklahoma and Baylor sophomore withdraws from NBA Draft.

Each morning Longhorns Wire will share the top stories from around the Big 12 Conference. For this edition of the Big 12 Morning College Football Talk and 247Sports provide the headlines.

Oklahoma linebacker Caleb Kelly has suffered a knee injury, per report

The Sooners defense lost one of their key players when he went to the NFL through the draft. Now Caleb Kelly was expected to be part of that linebacker group hoping to replace Kenneth Murray’s production. However, Sooners Wire is reporting that Kelly suffered an ACL tear that will cost him his season.

After a step back his sophomore year, former defensive coordinator Mike Stoops moved him to inside linebacker, where he ended up losing his starting role. Kelly suffered an almost season-ending injury in the spring of 2019 and played just four games in the fall.

He seemed prime for a big last year, but Kelly has reportedly been injured again during 2020 fall camp.

Oklahoma quarterback Tanner Mordecai reportedly suffers injury during fall camp

On top of the Kelly news, Sooners Wire also reported that backup quarterback Tanner Mordecai also suffered an injury. Mordecai wasn’t likely to challenge Spencer Rattler for any significant time but back up quarterbacks play a vital role and Moredecai could miss time depending on when the season actually kicks off.

The Sooners were going through a quarterback competition between Tanner Mordecai and presumed starter Spencer Rattler. The competition may have just gotten easier to figure out for unfortunate reasons.

According to a report from SoonerScoop.com, Mordecai suffered an injury during practice that won’t require surgery, but he will miss time.

Lincoln Riley has maintained that Mordecai is in the thick of this quarterback race, but missing time to the heavy favorite is not good for his potential of that.

The Waco, Texas, native came to Oklahoma in the 2018 recruiting class. He was a four-star prospect and one of the best players in Texas.

Baylor sophomore Jared Butler withdraws from draft

ESPN reported that Jared Butler has withdrawn from the NBA Draft and will return to campus for the 2020-21 basketball season.

“This decision was extremely difficult because of the relationships I’ve built in Waco, the tremendous will to win a national championship for Baylor, the unprecedented time of the coronavirus and my ultimate dream of playing in the NBA all in one equation,” Butler said. “But I think through it all I came to have great peace of mind in what I wanted to do and what’s best for me right now.”

Butler, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, was ranked as the No. 46 prospect in the ESPN 100. He averaged 16 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game for Baylor, which was projected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament when the season was canceled. A deep tournament run would have undoubtedly benefited Butler, who had a breakout season, being named to the Big 12’s all-conference first team and a third-team All-American.

Oklahoma linebacker Caleb Kelly has suffered a knee injury, per report

Oklahoma has suffered a major injury after the first few days of fall camp. The Sooners linebacking corps got a lot thinner.

Oklahoma has suffered a major injury after the first few days of fall camp.

Redshirt senior linebacker Caleb Kelly came to the Sooners with a lot of hype out of Fresno, California. Kelly blossomed his freshman year and finished it with a big performance against Auburn in the 2016 Sugar Bowl.

Since, things haven’t gone his way.

After a step back his sophomore year, former defensive coordinator Mike Stoops moved him to inside linebacker, where he ended up losing his starting role. Kelly suffered an almost season-ending injury in the spring of 2019 and played just four games in the fall.

He seemed prime for a big last year, but Kelly has reportedly been injured again during 2020 fall camp.

The redshirt senior has recorded 160 tackles in four years with 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. In 2018, Kelly was one of 11 FBS players named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for contributions to the community and world at large.

Brian Asamoah was in a battle with Kelly and DaShaun White to make the starting linebacker group. He played meaningful snaps in the 2019 season.

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Caleb Kelly named to Wuerffel Trophy watch list

Senior LB Caleb Kelly was named to the Danny Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list on Thursday. 

Senior LB Caleb Kelly was named to the Danny Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list on Thursday.

The award, named after the star Florida QB, annually honors the player “who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.”

Kelly returned to his hometown of Fresno, CA last month to participate in a peaceful protest for racial justice. After coming across photos of a protest in downtown Fresno, Kelly was determined to take a personal stake in the movement.

“I didn’t hear about that one and I was like, ‘I’ll make sure I’ll come out to this one,’” he told the Fresno Bee. “It’s important and powerful, for sure.”

Kelly, rated a five-star LB by 247Sports out of high school, has fought through a gauntlet of injuries during his time in Norman.

After playing much of the 2017 season with a torn shoulder labrum, he was forced to undergo lower body surgery prior to the Sooners’ 2019 campaign.

He played in only four games last year, totaling seven tackles.

Kelly at full-strength would be a valuable addition to any defense, but especially one that is rapidly changing its identity. Since Alex Grinch took over as defensive coordinator, OU’s defense has undergone a complete makeover.

It’s apparent that veterans like Kelly play a key role in ensuring a smooth transition. But Kelly can also benefit from Grinch’s new system and make his final season in Norman his best yet.

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Oklahoma 2020 player card: No. 19 Caleb Kelly

In 41 games played, Kelly has racked up 160 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, three fumble recoveries (two for touchdowns)…

There is a ton of momentum to having a 2020 college football season these days. No definite signs, yet, but the season would start less than 100 days from now.

Sooners Wire will be creating player cards for readers to be introduced to the 2020 roster.

Here is the defensive No. 19 for Oklahoma.

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Name: Caleb Kelly

Number: No. 19

Year: Redshirt senior

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Fresno, California

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 225 pounds

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Kelly was a five-star recruit in the 2016 class and the No. 14 ranked linebacker in the nation.

In 41 games played, Kelly has racked up 160 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, three fumble recoveries (two for touchdowns), and an interception.

After injuries kept him away from the game last season, Kelly looks to have one last hoorah and put film on tape under second-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. Grinch is a large reason as to why Kenneth Murray surprised folks by being selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Although Kelly is not quite on par with Murray, Grinch’s defensive wizardry may be able to get Kelly’s raw athleticism to shine in his scheme.

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