![]() “From the owners on down to the coaches and the training staff, you can’t get a better group of guys to run an organization like that.” ![]() “The Philadelphia Soul as a whole is one of the best organizations I’ve ever played for,” said McKelvey. The next year, McKelvey made the move up to the premier Arena league by joining the Philadelphia Soul roster, and he has felt at home ever since. He would use that experience to earn af2 Ironman-of-the-Game four times, in addition to offense player-of-the-game four times. He also posted 19 interceptions as a safety at Berkeley High School in Moncks Corner, SC. He was no stranger to defense, however, as he played linebacker at Clemson before moving to wide receiver. He also had three rushing touchdowns and scored five two-point conversions.Īs is common with some indoor players, he also took snaps on defense, totaling 21.5 tackles, a sack, interception returned for a touchdown, and two pass breakups. He was second in the league in scoring (298), totaling 1,454 yards with 44 touchdowns during the season. In 2005, McKelvey led the af2 in receptions (138) in only his second year with the Manchester (NH) Wolves. His acclimation would prove to be astounding. After a while, it got pretty easy with my size and speed.” It took me a while to get acclimated to the indoor plays. “I was still running outdoor routes…my posts were too long and my corners were too long. “When I first started, it was pretty rough,” replied McKelvey when asked about the transition to Arena football. The af2, a minor league to the AFL that began in 2000, develops players on 30 different active rosters, providing post-college players with ample opportunity for experience. Each team is only allowed eight players on the field, but the football used is the same size and weight as the NFL ball. The game is played on an indoor padded surface that is 85-feet wide and 50-yards long with eight-yard endzones. The AFL, founded in 1987, has grown increasingly in popularity and now features 19 teams. These days, he is working hard at making plays in a different color uniform, and on a different kind of field, at that.Īfter a stint with Tampa Bay in 2003, McKelvey has been leaving his footprints all over the Arena Football League. He finished his Tiger career with 84 receptions for 1,277 yards and eight scores, including leading the team with 752 yards as a senior in 2002. The play, which put the Tigers ahead 41-38 en route to a 47-44 upset victory in overtime and ultimately a bowl game berth, is one of McKelvey’s fondest memories from his days in orange and purple. On fourth-and-13 with two minutes left in regulation, Woodrow Dantzler connected with the lanky 6’4″ wideout for a 63-yard score. McKelvey will have eternal glory for the touchdown reception he made at #9 Georgia Tech in 2001. But for those willing to work and play their hearts out, glory can be found.įormer Clemson wide receiver J.J. Even for the few elite and worthy, the journey requires constant effort and is often incomplete. The transition from collegiate sports to the professional level is often a narrow and difficult ascension.
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