Leodis McKelvin

Leodis McKelvin

McKelvin tackles James Jones in 2010.
No. 21  Buffalo Bills
Position: Cornerback / Punt returner
Personal information
Date of birth: September 4, 1985
Place of birth: Waycross, Georgia
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight: 185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school: Waycross (GA) Ware Co.
College: Troy
NFL draft: 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× PFWA All-AFC (2008, 2012)
  • PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team (2008)
  • First-team All-American (2007)
  • 3× All-Sun Belt (2005, 2006, 2007)
Career NFL statistics as of 2014
Tackles: 285
Quarterback sacks: 0.0
Interceptions: 11
Pass deflections: 55
Return yards: 3,471
Total touchdowns: 5
Stats at NFL.com

Leodis Anquan McKelvin[1] (born September 1, 1985) is an American football cornerback and punt returner for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He played college football for Troy University. McKelvin was drafted by the Bills 11th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Early years

McKelvin attended Ware County High School in Waycross, Georgia, where he played cornerback for the Ware County Gators. As a junior, he recorded 60 tackles and six interceptions, while also returning eight receptions for over 300 yards. In his senior year, he recorded 51 tackles, recovered three fumbles, intercepted six passes and broke up six passes, while helping Ware to a 9-2 record, a regional title and a second-round AAAA playoff appearance in 2003. He was named defensive player of the year in the area as well as to the Georgia Times Union Super 11 team.

Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, McKelvin was not ranked among the nation's best cornerback prospects.[2] He received only few scholarship offers and picked Troy over Louisville on January 30, 2004.

College career

McKelving enrolled in Troy University, where he played for the Troy Trojans football team from 2004 to 2007. As a true freshman, McKelvin saw action in all 12 games as a return man and reserve in the secondary, averaging 11.7 yards per punt return and 21.9 yards per kickoff return for the season. In his sophomore year, he earned first team All-Sun Belt Conference honors as a return man by averaging 25.8 yards per kickoff return and 12.6 yards on punt returns. At cornerback, McKelvin was credited with 30 tackles, including 26 solo stops, one sack, a fumble recovery and five pass breakups.

His junior year was his first season as a regular cover corner, as he recorded 66 tackles on the year, including 56 solo stops, while starting all 13 games. McKelvin was credited with one tackle for loss during the season, had two forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries and seven pass breakups. As a senior, he returned three punts for touchdowns. He was named All-Sun Belt in both his junior and senior year as well.

Professional career

2008 NFL Draft

Prior to the draft, McKelvin was compared to Johnathan Joseph.[3] McKelvin was drafted by the Buffalo Bills 11th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, the first cornerback selected.

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
5 ft 10⅛ in 184 lb 4.39 s 1.50 s 2.52 s 4.10 s 7.07 s 40½ in 10 ft 5 in 18 reps
All values from NFL Combine[3]

Buffalo Bills

On July 26, McKelvin signed a five-year, $19.4 million contract with the Bills with up to $12.6 million in bonuses. McKelvin made an impact with his kick returning skills. McKelvin also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown in a preseason game against the Steelers. The following game, on Monday Night Football, he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. The following week on Sunday in Kansas City, McKelvin intercepted Tyler Thigpen twice, returning one for a 64-yard TD. The Bills went on to win the game 54-31.

On March 9, 2013, McKelvin re-signed with the Bills on a four-year, $20 million contract with $7.5 million in guaranteed money.[4]

Monday Night Football incident

On September 14, 2009, in the opening game of Monday Night Football, McKelvin caught a kickoff in his own endzone with Buffalo up 24-19 over the New England Patriots and 2:06 left in the game. He chose to return it instead of downing it and fumbled it around the 30 yard line. It was his second fumble of the game. New England drove from the 31 yard line for what turned out to be the winning touchdown.[5][6] As a result, two teenage males vandalized the Hamburg, New York home of McKelvin spray-painting obscenities as well as the phrase "take a knee" and the winning score of 25-24 in favor of New England on his front lawn. McKelvin chose not to press charges against the two teenage males.

NFL stats

Year Team Game Combined Tackles Tackles Assisted Tackles Sacks Forced Fumbles Fumble Recoveries Fumble Return Yards Interceptions Interception Return Yards Yards per Interception Return Longest Interception Return Interceptions Returned for Touchdown Passes Defended
2008 BUF 16 32 26 6 0.0 1 1 0 2 64 32 64 1 5
2009 BUF 3 11 8 3 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2010 BUF 16 62 53 9 0.0 1 0 0 2 10 5 10 0 11
2011 BUF 16 39 31 8 0.0 0 2 0 1 21 21 21 0 8
2012 BUF 13 21 20 1 0.0 0 0 0 1 9 9 9 0 3
2013 BUF 15 72 60 12 0.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 19
Career 79 237 198 39 0.0 3 3 0 7 104 15 64 1 47

[7]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.buffalobills.com/team/roster/Leodis-McKelvin/2e0b511d-6dc5-4cf3-978b-0b4a40f0d1bb
  2. ↑ "Leodis McKelvin Profile". Rivals.com.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Pro Football War Room: Leodis McKelvin Profile". SportingNews.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  4. ↑ http://blogs.buffalonews.com/press-coverage/2013/03/bills-re-sign-leodis-mckelvin-.html
  5. ↑ "Brady leads Pats to two scores in 1:16 span to beat Bills". Associated Press. September 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  6. ↑ Keefe, Neil (September 14, 2009). "Brady Leads Late Rally as Patriots Stun Bills 25-24". NESN.com. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  7. ↑ "Leodis McKelvin Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 12 April 2014.

External links