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Tennessee football: Draft grades for every Vol selected since 2017

By Dean Zulkofske

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Derek Barnett #96 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on October 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Derek Barnett #96 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on October 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Aug 24, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back John Kelly (42) runs the ball while Denver Broncos corner back Trey Johnson (39) defends during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 24, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back John Kelly (42) runs the ball while Denver Broncos corner back Trey Johnson (39) defends during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Running Back. 2018 Round 8 No. 176. 51. Scouting Report. player. Pick Analysis. John Kelly. 9

Draft Grade: C

It was 2018. Former Tennessee football halfback Alvin Kamara had proven to be the steal of the 2017 draft, accounting for almost 4,000 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns en route to the 2017 NFL Offensive rookie of the year award. Who can blame the Los Angeles Rams for taking a crack at the next available UT running back, John Kelly?

Kelly was a force to be reckoned with during his three seasons in Knoxville. The former three-star back from Oak Park, Mich. sat behind Kamara as a freshman and sophomore before rushing for 778 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior in 2017. Taken as a sixth-round pick, Kelly joined the Rams as an expected backup to Todd Gurley III with an opportunity to earn snaps.

But over two seasons in Los Angeles, Kelly only tacked on 83 yards on 30 carries and 2 receptions for 27 yards. Even with a knee injury nagging Gurley III, Kelly fell to fourth on the depth chart in a rookie season that included an NFC Championship and a trip to Super Bowl LIII.

The former Vols RB was waived by Los Angeles before the 2020 season and is no longer with the team that drafted him. He spent the 2020 season on the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad and is still signed to the team to a reserve/ futures contract.

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