2016 Football Roster
Roster
Kelly, John

Jersey Number 4
John Kelly
- Height:
- 5-9
- Weight:
- 212
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Detroit, Mich.
- High School:
- Oak Park
Bio
CAREER HIGHS
- Rushes - 19 (2x) vs. Georgia Tech, 9/4/17 & at Florida, 9/16/17
- Rushing Yards - 141 at Florida, 9/16/17
- Touchdown - 4 vs. Georgia Tech, 9/4/17
- Receptions - 6 at Florida, 9/16/17
- Receiving Yards - 96 at Florida, 9/16/17
- All-Purpose Yards - 237 at Florida, 9/16/17
- Fumble Recovery - 1 vs. Georgia, 10/10/15
2017 - Junior
- Ranks seventh in the SEC in rushing yards/game (86.8) and eighth in rushing touchdowns (8)
- Ranks second in the SEC and 25th in the nation in yards from scrimmage/game with 118.3
- One of four three players in the country to lead team in rushing yards and receptions
- Scored a pair of second-half rushing touchdowns in win vs. Southern Miss (11/4)
- Averaged 5.2 yards per carry in loss at No. 1 Alabama (10/21)
- Posted third 100-yard rushing performance of the year and scored a TD in win over UMass
- Set career highs with 141 rushing yards and 96 receiving yards in 26-20 loss at No. 24 Florida (9/16)
- Rushed 19 times for 128 yards and a career-high 4 TDs in 42-41 (2OT) win over Georgia Tech in Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Scored game-tying TD in regulation and both UT TDs in overtime (9/4)
2016 - SOPHOMORE
Photo Gallery
- 2016 GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS
- Games/Starts: 12/1
- Enjoyed breakout sophomore campaign, leading all UT running backs with 630 yards on 98 carries (6.4 average) and posting five rushing scores. Also had six catches for 51 yards.
- Ranked 12th in the SEC with 6.4 yards-per-carry average
- Most of his work came in SEC games. Against conference foes, rushed 73 times for 438 yards (6.0 average) and two touchdowns
- Ran for 70 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries in win over Nebraska in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (12/30)
- Had nine carries for 52 yards and one catch for one yard at Vanderbilt (11/26)
- Rushed a career-high 18 times for 101 yards and one touchdown vs. Missouri (11/19)
- Rushed for 94 yards on 16 carries against Kentucky (11/12)
- His 73-yard touchdown run vs. Tennessee Tech (11/5) was the longest rush by a Vol since LaMarcus Coker's 87-yard TD vs. Vanderbilt on Nov. 18, 2006
- Made first start of career vs. Tennessee Tech (11/5), rushing for 104 yards and one touchdown on seven carries and making one catch for 11 yards
- With Alvin Kamara sidelined due to injury, set new career highs with 14 carries for 94 yards, including career-long of 34, and one 17-yard catch at South Carolina (10/29)
- Had three carries for eight yards and caught one pass for three yards against Alabama (10/15)
- Enjoyed outstanding game at Texas A&M (10/8), seeing a lot of playing time with Jalen Hurd not playing due to injury. Tied career high with 13 carries and set new career highs with 89 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown and 101 all purpose yards. Also had one catch for 12 yards. Ran in a four-yard touchdown midway through fourth quarter to draw UT to within 28-21.
- Recorded first catch of career for seven yards at Georgia (10/1)
- Had two carries for 14 yards vs. Ohio (9/17)
- Ran for a four-yard touchdown vs. Virginia Tech (9/10)
2015 - FRESHMAN
Photo Gallery
- 2015 GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS
- Games/Starts: 10/0
- True freshman played in 10 games, rushing 40 times for 166 yards with one touchdown
- Also played key role on special teams
- Scored first college touchdown on a 1-yard rush in Outback Bowl win over Northwestern (1/1)
- Carried five times 15 yards vs. North Texas (11/14)
- Ran for 58 yards on 10 carries at Kentucky (10/31)
- Recovered key fumble on kickoff coverage to help Vols' rally vs. #19 Georgia (10/10)
- Ran for 59 yards on 13 carries vs. Western Carolina (9/19)
- One of 15 true freshmen to debut vs. Bowling Green (9/5), rushed eight times for 29 yards late in game
HIGH SCHOOL
- Lettered at Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Mich., for coach Greg Carter
- 247 Sports: 3-star (No. 37 athlete, No. 5 prospect in Michigan)
- ESPN: 3-star (No. 54 running back, No. 7 prospect in Michigan)
- Rivals: 3-star (No. 29 running back, No. 8 prospect in Michigan)
- Scout: 3-star (No. 43 running back, No. 2 running back in Michigan)
- Three-year starter for the Knights playing running back, cornerback and returner
- Named to Associated Press Michigan All-State Team in 2014
- Top 10 finalist for Michigan High School Player of the Year in 2014
- Member of the 2014 Detroit News Dream Team
- Totaled 25 touchdowns as a senior, scoring five different ways (rushing, receiving, kickoff return, punt return and interception)
- Averaged 10 yards per carry with 1,321 rushing yards on 138 carries with 21 rushing touchdowns
- Also had 39 tackles in the secondary
- Helped Knights to second round of state playoffs, finishing with an 8-3 record as a senior in 2014
Personal:
- Full Name: John Marshall Kelly Jr.
- Born: Oct. 4, 1996
- Son of Lateasha Orsborne and John Kelly Sr.
- Majoring in Journalism and Electronic Media
- Recipient of Michael & Christy Coffey Athletic Scholarship Endowment
FB | Cinematic Recap vs. Syracuse (8.30.25)
Tuesday, September 02
FB | Willie Martinez Press Conference (9.2.25)
Tuesday, September 02
FB | Joey Halzle Press Conference (9.2.25)
Tuesday, September 02
FB | Josh Heupel Press Conference (9.1.25)
Monday, September 01