Projected starter at Will Linebacker, Kelly is a fifth-year squad and three-time letterman member who will provide a steady presence on the outside ... Recorded 4 tackles in Maroon and White Game (4/21/12).
2011: Started all 11 games at Will linebacker as a junior and brought down 46 ball carriers ... Finished second on the club with 2 forced fumbles and was ninth in tackles ... Posted career-high 7 tackles at Eastern Kentucky (9/10/11) and against Northern Iowa (10/1/11) ... Also had a sack in the UNI game ... Recorded 4 solo tackles in back-to-back games at EKU (9/10/11) and at No. 12 Oregon (9/17/11) ... Had 3 tackles, a forced fumble and a pair of QB hurries in win at Western Illinois (10/22/11) ... Posted 6 tackles and a pass break-up in season finale win at Youngstown State (11/19/11) ... Had 4 or more tackles in 7 games.
2010: Played all 11 games, securing 14 tackles ... Was 16th on the club in total tackles and eighth on the team in tackles for loss (3.0) ... Recorded 6 tackles at No. 25 Illinois State (9/25/10), including 4 solo stops ... Also brought down 3 ball carriers against Eastern Kentucky (9/3/10) and at Murray State (10/9/10) ... Also tallied 1.5 sacks for 11 yards in EKU game in season opener ... Had 3 tackles in Maroon and White Spring Game (4/16/11).
2009: Played in all 11 games as a redshirt freshman ... Factored in 9 official tackles for the season, including 2 solo stops in win at Western Illinois (10/17/09) ... Also had 2 tackles in season opener at Arkansas (9/5/09) ... Also tallied 1.5 TFLs and a half sack ... Had 5 tackles in Maroon and White Game (4/24/09).
2008: Redshirted his first MSU season ... Named MSU Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week for the Southern Illinois game (10/25/08).
High School: Two-year starter for Coach Royce Boehm at Lee[apos]s Summit (Mo.) West High ... Helped the Titans to a 14-0 season and Class 4 state title in 2007 while earning consensus first-team all-state honors ... Had 3.5 TFLs and 3 sacks in the state championship against Parkway Central ... Claimed All-Suburban Small 6 honors twice, Independence Examiner All-Area and Kansas City Star All-Metro distinction ... Recorded a school record 11.5 sacks as a senior ... Tallied 36 career tackles for loss and 19.5 career sacks, both school records ... Titans were 12-1 and state semifinalists his junior year.
Personal: Rodney D. Kelly was born 6/29/90 in Kansas City, Mo. ... Son of Ronald and Stacey Kelly of Lee[apos]s Summit, Mo. ... Has two brothers, Ronald, Jr. and Nick ... Majoring in Sport and Park Administration.
