HOOVER, Ala. — With an NCAA investigation that could include multiple penalties to the Ole Miss program, it’s easy to become distracted.
After turning down the opportunity to make millions in the NFL, senior quarterback Chad Kelly isn’t focused on going out with a “bang.”
“I’m in Oxford for another eight months or whatever,” Kelly said. “I want to be remembered as the greatest quarterback player to ever play. You have to go out and prove it first, and you have to work hard.”
Kelly, who was the first Ole Miss player to win the Sugar Bowl MVP since Archie Manning, wasn’t comfortable at quarterback until he took on the mindset that he was the best quarterback in the country, he said.
Following a troubled past, that included being kicked off the Clemson football team and an incident at a nightclub in 2014, Kelly said the death of his grandmother on March 7, 2015 opened up his eyes and put things into perspective for him.
The loss of loved one can be hard to come to grips with, but it taught Kelly not that everything is given to you and everything could be taken away.
His father has also had a big impact on the gunslinger.
“Since I was about eight years old [my dad] was the one who was out at a park with me every single day,” Kelly said. “Whether it was 8 o’clock at night or 8 o’clock in the morning, he was always there just trying to help me get better.”
The nephew of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, the Ole Miss signal caller and was selected to be a mentor for the Manning Passing Academy camp in Thibodaux, Louisiana in June.
To be around legendary quarterbacks such as Peyton and Eli was an “awesome” experience, Kelly said, and his time at the camp was fun. The 6-foot-2, 224-pound quarterback also attended the camp alongside LSU junior quarterback Brandon Harris, who was also a mentor at the camp.
Harris frequently calls Kelly through facetime while he’s outside Tiger Stadium to remind him where next year’s game will be.
Last season, Kelly entered into the starting quarterback role for the Rebels which led to much success. The former Clemson quarterback led the Southeastern Conference in passing yards per game and touchdowns and became the first signal caller to led Ole Miss to five victories over top-25 teams.
But even with all of those accomplishments, one of the big reasons for his return to school was the National Championship.
“We’ve had a lot of success,” Kelly said. “We just have to build on it. The margin of error is so small. In order to be the best you gotta beat the best. We’re all anxious to get out there and do what we’re taught to do.”
