Kelly Jennings
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| Kelly Jennings | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | November 30, 1982 (age 24) |
| Place of birth |  Live Oak, Florida |
| Position(s) | Cornerback |
| College | University of Miami |
| NFL Draft | 2006 / Round 1/ Pick 31 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 2006-present | Seattle Seahawks |
Kelly Jarrod Jennings (born November 30, 1982 in Live Oak, Florida) is an American football cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League.
[edit] University of Miami
Jennings played college football at the University of Miami, where he graduated with a degree in finance and a 3.0 grade point average. He currently is in the process of acquiring a second degree in business management.
[edit] Drafted by the Seahawks
Jennings was drafted by the Seahawks out of the University of Miami with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Kelly has played for the Seahawks on special teams and defense.
Jennings' selection in the 2006 first round kept alive an ongoing record by the University of Miami, which has now had players selected as first-round draft picks in each of the past 12 NFL drafts. No other college or university has ever matched that record.
In his rookie season, Jennings served as a nickelback and special teamer primarily until Marcus Trufant, Kelly Herndon, and Jimmy Williams all sustained injuries in week 16 and 17 of the 2006 NFL season. He ended up playing in 16 games, starting in 2, recording 40 tackles, 1 interception, 6 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, and giving up 2 touchdowns. In the postseason, with Seattle's secondary seriously hurting and forced to start safety Jordan Babineaux at #2 CB and previously out of the NFL Pete Hunter at nickel, Jennings was forced into the #1 role for the Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys and was primarily used to cover Terry Glenn due to their similar body build and playing styles. Glenn was held to 4 receptions for 41 yards, while Jennings recorded 1 tackle and a game-saving forced fumble on Glenn that would lead to a Seattle safety which would later prove vital in a 21-20 Seahawks victory. In the Divisional round against the Chicago Bears, Jennings recorded 6 tackles but was beat deep on a 68 touchdown pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian. The Bears ended up winning in overtime 27-24.
