Stay or go? This is the multi-million dollar question for a junior who is not a lock for first round after NFL scouts' evaluation Should Malcolm Kelly stay or go?
Should he declare for the NFL Draft, where he is expected to go no lower than the second round?
Or should he stay in school for another year, with hopes that his stock will rise?
Kelly is among many juniors — including several Sooners — who will have to make that decision before next Tuesday, the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft.
Like the others, Kelly's decision will hinge largely on what round he believes he'll be taken.
On his personal draft projection, where scouts evaluated two of his game films, Kelly received a second-round grade.
That, however, doesn't mean Kelly can't be taken in the first round, where several mock drafts have him going.
"They always grade you conservative and worst-case scenario,” he said.
But while the margin is thin between going in the first and second rounds, the difference in initial earnings is significant.
Last year's first receiver taken — Calvin Johnson with the second overall pick by the Detroit Lions — received a base salary of $285,000.
Bonuses, however, are why draft placement matters. Johnson's total bonuses equaled almost $7 million.
Sidney Rice — the first receiver taken in last year's second round by the Minnesota Vikings — also received a base salary of $285,000.
But Rice's total bonuses equaled about $2 million.
Coming into this season, Kelly was thought of as a surefire future first-round draft choice after having a banner sophomore year when he caught 62 passes for 993 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Kelly started out this season the same way, leading the nation with seven touchdown receptions heading into conference play.
But since, Kelly's production has dropped.
Against Colorado, he didn't even have a pass thrown his way, much less record a reception.
In fact after the Big 12 season started, Kelly had just two touchdown receptions the rest of the year.
He finished second on the team in receiving with 49 catches for 821 yards behind wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias.
And injury concerns rose once more when Kelly missed the Fiesta Bowl for the second consecutive year, this time with a deep bruise in his thigh. Last year, he left the Fiesta Bowl early with a knee injury, later having surgery during the off-season to mend it.
Even with the down season, however, Kelly's ultimate draft selection probably will depend on his performance at the combine and who else declares for the draft.
So far the two best junior prospects, California's DeSean Jackson and Michigan's Mario Manningham, have yet to reveal their plans. Even with them, this is shaping up to be a weak draft class for wide receivers.
Still, Kelly is not a lock for the first round.
Instead of declaring, Kelly could return to school with hopes of positioning himself into the first round for next year's draft with an improved senior season.
Another sub-par year, though, could knock Kelly out of the first round for sure.
That's why Kelly is taking his time with this decision.
It could be worth millions.
"You want to come back if you can improve your stock and improve your position in the draft,” Kelly said. "You have to look at if there's anyway you can improve. Also, you can be a top four receiver, but what if only one team in the first round needs a receiver?
"The cards have to fall in the right place.”
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Kelly has already checked out!
This article is fruitless and an attempt to sway Kelly from going pro.
When the guy won't even suit up for an important post-season, BCS bowl game because he's afriad he'd get hurt, blowing his draft chances, why would you want him back on the team?
The guy is about Kelly. He's not a teammate.
Granger should go to. He's stupid for one, and two, he's also another individual only thinking about himself -- not his team.
You Sooner fans have lost your moral compass for the sake of wins.
And where has that got you lately?
Kelly should go pro. His heart's not with the team. His projected draft level continues to go down because he is always missing big games and when he's there he disappears.Lots of big plays against North Texas and others. He's one of the mercenaries that needs to go. Chaney plays with great intensity when given the chance and makes big plays.
Kelly should probably go pro right now. With his injury background, who knows about next year? Better to get a decent contract now than risk losing it all. And John from OKC: The double coverage you mentioned DID open up the other receivers. That's precisely why Iglesias had such a good year. It' like at OSU last year when they doubled D'Juan Woods and Bowman had a great year. He didn't get near as many this season because HE was the one they doubled all the time. That is why Kelly was not as effective. He will go in at least the second round, maybe even the first. And they won't be able to double him all the time in the pros. There will be another quality receiver or two to open him up more.
Yes, Kelly can leave now and get a nice paycheck, but I have two words for you.....Jimmy Wilerson. Remember, he opted to leave early and had he stayed he probably would have made more over his first 5 years in the NFL than he has made so far. Somtimes coming back can be a good thing. Oh, and let us not forget one other player who should have stayed......... De’Mond Parker.
I wish kelly would stay so he could improve his ability. This guy really should go down as one of the OU greats, but for some reason he didn't show it this past season. I wish Wilson would desgin more plays that give him a better chance to get the ball, because he is a huge threat. If he stays his draft status will only improve next year! (barring any career ending injuries, which is less likely for a WR IMO)
MK should stay - he will improve his stock for next year. As for the bashing on the offense - no OU team in the history of college football has scored more touchdowns. Case closed.
OU fans, why are you bashing the play calling of Kevin Wilson? Is being the 2nd highest scoring team in the country not good enough for you? OU ONLY averaged over 40 pts a game. I realize Wilson should probably get a little more creative sometimes, but get serious, OU was highly effective on offense and the numbers back it up.
He should go and not come back. He is useless as a wide receiver and cannot perform in the big games. He is no Jerry Rice. This guy is a loser and his motives were clear before the Fiesta bowl game. He is not a team player but a selfish athlete.
We all know what decision Kelly has made, and that leaving. He is made this decision during the bowl game. Really when you sit out bc of a thigh bruise, come on you kidding me he was thinking of he's position in the draft. So see ya Kelly we dont need you.
Kelly would be wise to stay. I don't think he's round one material just yet. I question his toughness and devotion, not only to the Sooners, but to the GAME. That being said, it would probably be better for our recruiting if he moved on. We would have a better chance at landing Jones and the kid from Muskogee (name is avoiding me right now!).
If he is only used as a decoy again next year on OU's team, why not go to a pro team that has a lot of offensive schemes for receivers in which he could have an opportunity to improve as a receiver. I am afraid he will "die on the vine" if he stays at OU for another year with the limited offense we run.
His next season can only be better, plus he could work on the intangibles that some are questioning (desire, toughness, etc.). Going may be lucrative, but if he stays, he could be a star and a top 10 pick. I don't think his skills or his stock will diminish over another year. Unless the call of the money is too great, the smart thing is to stay.
Why would he stay? Look at what happened to Ryan Minor in the NBA. While he got the accolades for staying one more year to save Kelvin Sampson, he still lost about $10 million.
Kelly,
Stay at OU for your senior year. It will be the best year of your life, you will never has as much fun again. Plus, you'll get twice the signing bonus, and your second contract will be worth more as well. It is best for your well being and your wallet to stay.
Kelly should stay: one, he lacks upper body strength; two, I think there is a toughness question; three, he needs to show more desire. Right now, he reminds me of Rashaun Woods and I think that would be his fate: a late 1 or early 2 pick, physically overwhelmed by pro DBs, and a questionable desire to do what it takes to be good in the League. Don't get me wrong, the POTENTIAL is there and he has EXCEPTIONAL hands and VERY GOOD speed, but he just does not give me the impression of a guy who BURNS to play, and play well, in the pros.
Like all of us, Malcolm has to do what's best for him. If he comes out early, he might want to start hitting the weights because he is pretty skinny still. WRs seem to be like RBs at OU these days, NEXT!!
Kelly please stay you don't want to leave and then miss it when OU wins the National Championship in the 2008 season, for example if Adrian Peterson had stayed for his senior year then OU would have been a a lot better and probably would have gone undefeated but of course he does have the chance to make millions in the NFL
I think MK should stay one more year to help raise his stock. I mean he can't hurt it by staying another year and it will give him a chance to possibly win another conference title and go to a bowl game. I don't think his family would need the $$ since his parents are both engineers. I think if he stayed another year they would make it a point to get him the ball more, which is what every wide out would look for.
Scott, Indian Territory - Jan 10, 2008 at 10:05 am
Paul from Norman, what are you talking about? Kelly's hands are remarkable. He might have dropped one ball this year that he should have caught. No one is perfect. But he caught at least 10 balls that no one else would have even had a chance catching. I have no idea what receiver or what team you were watching, but it wasn't Malcom Kelly.
Its been frustrating not getting Kelly the ball as good as he is. Yes, we all know he will get the other teams' best defenders and double coverage, but that only means mismatches elsewhere.
I hope Kelly comes back. I hope he finally gets to play in a BCS game because we need him. I also hope OU can evolve their offense into a spread and throw it like Missouri and Tech next year because we will have some talented receivers...including running backs who can catch and run.
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This article is fruitless and an attempt to sway Kelly from going pro.
When the guy won't even suit up for an important post-season, BCS bowl game because he's afriad he'd get hurt, blowing his draft chances, why would you want him back on the team?
The guy is about Kelly. He's not a teammate.
Granger should go to. He's stupid for one, and two, he's also another individual only thinking about himself -- not his team.
You Sooner fans have lost your moral compass for the sake of wins.
And where has that got you lately?
Please, please, please remove the "your thoughts" feature from the website.
Thanks,
The Educated Few
Stay at OU for your senior year. It will be the best year of your life, you will never has as much fun again. Plus, you'll get twice the signing bonus, and your second contract will be worth more as well. It is best for your well being and your wallet to stay.
I hope Kelly comes back. I hope he finally gets to play in a BCS game because we need him. I also hope OU can evolve their offense into a spread and throw it like Missouri and Tech next year because we will have some talented receivers...including running backs who can catch and run.