Edward Kelly Jr.

Physical Profile

Listed at 5-9, 175 lbs. Taller than 8% and heavier than 9% of 2026 Running Back prospects in the SEC Scouts database (138 with a listed size).

Play Style

Kelly is a one-cut, stretch-the-defense runner who presses the line, plants and accelerates through the hole. His best runs come on outside zone and perimeter tosses, where his 200m speed lets him outrun pursuit angles. Once he clears the second level, defensive backs rarely catch him from behind, which is why so many of his senior carries went for long gains. He is a natural kick returner who hits the seam decisively. His experience at safety and middle linebacker shows up in how willingly he takes contact, though he wins more with angles and burst than by running people over. He is a credible receiver out of the backfield, not a pure runner.

Strengths

• Home-run speed that shows up in games: his 10.8 yards per carry as a senior and a 390-yard, 24-carry game against Tomball Memorial (16.3 per carry) show long-speed that turns a crease into a touchdown
• Kick-return value right away: he averaged 36.6 yards on kickoffs as a junior with a 90-yard touchdown and ranked 6th in Texas in kickoff return yards as a senior, which gives him a path to the field in year one
• Real receiving production: 23 catches, 217 yards and 3 TDs as a junior (9.4 per catch), so he can be split out or used on screens, wheels and swing routes instead of being a runner only
• Productive in top Texas competition: he topped 1,400 rushing yards in both his junior and senior seasons in Houston-area 6A (Klein ISD / Tomball-Magnolia region) and totaled more than 2,100 all-purpose yards and 25 TDs as a junior

Areas to Improve

• Play strength and pass protection: at about 185 lbs he will be outweighed by Power Four blitzing linebackers by 40 or more pounds. Recognizing blitzes, squaring up and cut-blocking properly will decide whether he can be trusted on third down
• Running between the tackles under contact: his high-school production came mostly from breakaway runs. He needs to show he can fall forward and gain yards after contact on inside zone and duo when the crease closes, instead of bouncing everything outside
• Durability and workload: he missed SMU's 2026 opener against Florida State with an undisclosed injury, and his frame raises questions about handling 15-20 carries a game until his body matures

College Projection

He is on SMU's 2026 roster as a true freshman (#20) at a deep running back spot, and an early injury cost him the Week 1 opener. The most realistic path for year one is kick returns plus a few change-of-pace carries, which fits the four-game redshirt rule. Year two (2027) is the likely jump into a real rotation role once he has added strength. By years three and four he could be a 1A/1B back in a split backfield, averaging 6+ yards per carry and giving the offense big plays on perimeter runs and screens.

NFL Outlook

The stored 4-star grade (Composite 0.8917) sits right on the 4-star line, and 247's own grade is a 3-star 88, so he is not a projected high draft pick right now. His best NFL path is the speed-back and returner route: if he adds weight while keeping his 4.4-range speed, catches the ball consistently and becomes a dependable pass protector, he projects as a Day 3 or priority free agent back who makes a roster through special teams. His return production and sprint times are the traits NFL scouts will value first.

Best Fit

A wide-zone or spread RPO offense that uses the whole field horizontally, runs a lot of outside zone, jet and toss plays, and throws screens and swing passes to the back. SMU's up-tempo spread under Rhett Lashlee is a close match. He is best in a committee where a bigger back takes the short-yardage and goal-line work, and where special teams gives him return snaps right away while he adds strength.