Troy University Athletics
McKelvin Picks Up Third All-America Honor; Official Senior Bowl Invite
12/17/2007 6:00:00 AM | Football
MOBILE, Ala. - Troy University defensive back Leodis McKelvin, a first-team All-American kick returner and one of the nation's best cover corners, will play in the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl, officials have announced.
McKelvin was named to the first-team All-American squads selected by The Sporting News, Rivals.com and Pro Football Weekly in 2007 as a kick returner, as he led the nation with three punt returns for touchdowns. He also averaged 17.4 yards per return, which ranked fourth in the nation.
McKelvin was also named first team All-America by Pro Football Weekly as a cornerback.
He also became the first Troy University player to be named first-team All-American since the school's move to Division I-A (now Bowl Championship Division) in 2001.
McKelvin also led the Trojans in all-purpose yardage with 1,192 despite not having taken an offensive snap all season. He had 436 yards on 25 punt returns and 765 more yards on 33 kickoffs, recording an impressive 23.2 kickoff return average.
The 5-11, 190-pound native of Waycross, Ga., also finished his Trojan career with seven career kick returns for touchdowns, one shy of the all-time NCAA record.
An outstanding cover corner, as well, McKelvin recorded 60 total tackles during the season, 52 solo, added two interceptions, 11 pass break-ups and three forced fumbles and excelled against top competition in the Trojans' biggest games such as Oklahoma State, Georgia, Arkansas and Florida.
The 59th annual Under Armour Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, January 26, 2008. Tickets sell for $24, $18 and $12 each and can be purchased at all area Food World stores, selected Regions Bank branches, by calling 251-432-4109 or ordered through the bowl's website at www.seniorbowl.com.
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Matt Ryan, Boston College, Sr.
RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas, Jr.
RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois, Jr.
FB Brannan Southerland, Georgia, Jr.
WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri, Fr.
WR Jordy Nelson, Kansas State, Sr.
TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State, Jr.
OT Jake Long, Michigan, Sr.
OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh, Sr.
OG Duke Robinson, Oklahoma, Jr.
OG Roy Schuening, Oregon State, Sr.
C Steve Justice, Wake Forest, Sr.
DEFENSE
DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State, Jr.
DE Chris Long, Virginia, Sr.
DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU, Sr.
DT Sedrick Ellis, USC, Sr.
ILB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, Jr.
OLB Keith Rivers, USC, Sr.
OLB Sean Lee, Penn State, Jr.
S William Moore, Missouri, Jr.
S Nic Harris, Oklahoma, Jr.
CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy, Sr.
CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State, Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KR Chris Johnson, East Carolina, Sr.
PR Leodis McKelvin, Troy, Sr.
PK Steven Hauschka, North Carolina State, Sr.
P Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech, Sr.
HEAD COACH
Gary Pinkel, Missouri
HONORABLE MENTION
QB: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, Fr.; Andre' Woodson, Kentucky, Sr.; Dennis Dixon, Oregon, Sr.; Cullen Harper, Clemson, Jr.; Tim Tebow, Florida, So.; Chase Daniel, Missouri, Jr.; Joe Flacco, Delaware, Sr.
RB: Felix Jones, Arkansas, Jr.; Jonathan Stewart, Oregon, Jr.; DeMarco Murray, Fr.; Chris Wells, Ohio State, So.; Kevin Smith, Central Florida, Jr.; Matt Forte', Tulane, Sr.; Knowshon Moreno, Georgia, Fr.; James Davis, Clemson, Jr.
FB: Jacob Hester, LSU, Sr.
WR: Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma, Jr.; Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland, So.; Mario Manningham, Michigan, Jr.; Kenneth Moore, Wake Forest, Sr.; James Hardy, Indiana, Jr.; Arrelious Benn, Illinois, Fr.; Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, Fr.
TE: Cornelius Ingram, Florida, Jr.; Travis Beckum, Wisconsin, Jr.; Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, So.; Chase Coffman, Missouri, Jr.; Fred Davis, USC, Sr.; Dustin Keller, Purdue, Sr.; Martin Rucker, Missouri, Sr.
OL: Ryan Clady, Boise State, Jr.; Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma, Jr.; Chris Williams, Vanderbilt, Sr.; Andre Smith, Alabama, So.; Chris McDuffie, Clemson, Sr.; Branden Albert, Virginia, Jr.; Alex Mack, California, Jr.; Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas, Jr.; Jamey Richard, Buffalo, Sr.; Fernando Velasco, Georgia, Sr.; Mike Pollak, Arizona State, Sr.
DE: Derrick Harvey, Florida, Jr.; Maurice Evans, Penn State, So.; Phillip Merling, Clemson, Jr.; Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest, Sr.; Auston English, Oklahoma, So.; Willie Young, North Carolina State, So.
DT: Marvin Austin, North Carolina, Fr.; Trevor Laws, Notre Dame, Sr.; Pat Sims, Auburn, Jr.; Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan, Sr.; Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina, Sr.
LB: Darry Beckwith, LSU, Jr.; Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma, Jr.; Rey Maualuga, USC, Jr.; Dan Connor, Penn State, Sr.; Jolonn Dunbar, Boston College, Sr.; Robert James, Arizona State, Sr.; Erin Henderson, Maryland, Jr.; Ali Highsmith, LSU, Sr.
DB: DaJuan Morgan, North Carolina State, Jr.; Michael Hamlin, Clemson, Jr.; Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State, Sr.; D.J. Wolfe, Oklahoma, Sr.; Mike Jenkins, South Florida, Sr.; Vontae Davis, Illinois, So.; Trae Williams, South Florida, Sr.; Patrick Lee, Auburn, Sr.; Tyvon Branch, Connecticut, Sr.; Charles Godfrey, Iowa, Sr.; Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, Jr.
KR: DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma, Fr.
PR: Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech, Sr.
PK: Jeff Wolfert, Missouri, Jr.
P: Chris Miller, Ball State, Jr.
COACH: Ron Zook, Illinois; Mark Mangino, Kansas; Jim Leavitt, South Florida; Jim Tressel, Ohio State; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Dennis Erickson, Arizona State
McKelvin was named to the first-team All-American squads selected by The Sporting News, Rivals.com and Pro Football Weekly in 2007 as a kick returner, as he led the nation with three punt returns for touchdowns. He also averaged 17.4 yards per return, which ranked fourth in the nation.
McKelvin was also named first team All-America by Pro Football Weekly as a cornerback.
He also became the first Troy University player to be named first-team All-American since the school's move to Division I-A (now Bowl Championship Division) in 2001.
McKelvin also led the Trojans in all-purpose yardage with 1,192 despite not having taken an offensive snap all season. He had 436 yards on 25 punt returns and 765 more yards on 33 kickoffs, recording an impressive 23.2 kickoff return average.
The 5-11, 190-pound native of Waycross, Ga., also finished his Trojan career with seven career kick returns for touchdowns, one shy of the all-time NCAA record.
An outstanding cover corner, as well, McKelvin recorded 60 total tackles during the season, 52 solo, added two interceptions, 11 pass break-ups and three forced fumbles and excelled against top competition in the Trojans' biggest games such as Oklahoma State, Georgia, Arkansas and Florida.
The 59th annual Under Armour Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, January 26, 2008. Tickets sell for $24, $18 and $12 each and can be purchased at all area Food World stores, selected Regions Bank branches, by calling 251-432-4109 or ordered through the bowl's website at www.seniorbowl.com.
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Matt Ryan, Boston College, Sr.
RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas, Jr.
RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois, Jr.
FB Brannan Southerland, Georgia, Jr.
WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri, Fr.
WR Jordy Nelson, Kansas State, Sr.
TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State, Jr.
OT Jake Long, Michigan, Sr.
OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh, Sr.
OG Duke Robinson, Oklahoma, Jr.
OG Roy Schuening, Oregon State, Sr.
C Steve Justice, Wake Forest, Sr.
DEFENSE
DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State, Jr.
DE Chris Long, Virginia, Sr.
DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU, Sr.
DT Sedrick Ellis, USC, Sr.
ILB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, Jr.
OLB Keith Rivers, USC, Sr.
OLB Sean Lee, Penn State, Jr.
S William Moore, Missouri, Jr.
S Nic Harris, Oklahoma, Jr.
CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy, Sr.
CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State, Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KR Chris Johnson, East Carolina, Sr.
PR Leodis McKelvin, Troy, Sr.
PK Steven Hauschka, North Carolina State, Sr.
P Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech, Sr.
HEAD COACH
Gary Pinkel, Missouri
HONORABLE MENTION
QB: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, Fr.; Andre' Woodson, Kentucky, Sr.; Dennis Dixon, Oregon, Sr.; Cullen Harper, Clemson, Jr.; Tim Tebow, Florida, So.; Chase Daniel, Missouri, Jr.; Joe Flacco, Delaware, Sr.
RB: Felix Jones, Arkansas, Jr.; Jonathan Stewart, Oregon, Jr.; DeMarco Murray, Fr.; Chris Wells, Ohio State, So.; Kevin Smith, Central Florida, Jr.; Matt Forte', Tulane, Sr.; Knowshon Moreno, Georgia, Fr.; James Davis, Clemson, Jr.
FB: Jacob Hester, LSU, Sr.
WR: Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma, Jr.; Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland, So.; Mario Manningham, Michigan, Jr.; Kenneth Moore, Wake Forest, Sr.; James Hardy, Indiana, Jr.; Arrelious Benn, Illinois, Fr.; Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, Fr.
TE: Cornelius Ingram, Florida, Jr.; Travis Beckum, Wisconsin, Jr.; Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, So.; Chase Coffman, Missouri, Jr.; Fred Davis, USC, Sr.; Dustin Keller, Purdue, Sr.; Martin Rucker, Missouri, Sr.
OL: Ryan Clady, Boise State, Jr.; Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma, Jr.; Chris Williams, Vanderbilt, Sr.; Andre Smith, Alabama, So.; Chris McDuffie, Clemson, Sr.; Branden Albert, Virginia, Jr.; Alex Mack, California, Jr.; Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas, Jr.; Jamey Richard, Buffalo, Sr.; Fernando Velasco, Georgia, Sr.; Mike Pollak, Arizona State, Sr.
DE: Derrick Harvey, Florida, Jr.; Maurice Evans, Penn State, So.; Phillip Merling, Clemson, Jr.; Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest, Sr.; Auston English, Oklahoma, So.; Willie Young, North Carolina State, So.
DT: Marvin Austin, North Carolina, Fr.; Trevor Laws, Notre Dame, Sr.; Pat Sims, Auburn, Jr.; Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan, Sr.; Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina, Sr.
LB: Darry Beckwith, LSU, Jr.; Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma, Jr.; Rey Maualuga, USC, Jr.; Dan Connor, Penn State, Sr.; Jolonn Dunbar, Boston College, Sr.; Robert James, Arizona State, Sr.; Erin Henderson, Maryland, Jr.; Ali Highsmith, LSU, Sr.
DB: DaJuan Morgan, North Carolina State, Jr.; Michael Hamlin, Clemson, Jr.; Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State, Sr.; D.J. Wolfe, Oklahoma, Sr.; Mike Jenkins, South Florida, Sr.; Vontae Davis, Illinois, So.; Trae Williams, South Florida, Sr.; Patrick Lee, Auburn, Sr.; Tyvon Branch, Connecticut, Sr.; Charles Godfrey, Iowa, Sr.; Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, Jr.
KR: DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma, Fr.
PR: Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech, Sr.
PK: Jeff Wolfert, Missouri, Jr.
P: Chris Miller, Ball State, Jr.
COACH: Ron Zook, Illinois; Mark Mangino, Kansas; Jim Leavitt, South Florida; Jim Tressel, Ohio State; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Dennis Erickson, Arizona State
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