Leodis McKelvin facts for kids
McKelvin with the Bills in 2015
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| No. 28, 21 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | September 4, 1985 Waycross, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Ware County (Waycross, Georgia) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Troy (2004–2007) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Leodis Anquan McKelvin (born September 4, 1985) is a former American football player. He was known for playing as a cornerback and a return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Troy Trojans. He was so good that he earned top honors as an All-American in 2007. The Buffalo Bills picked him early in the 2008 NFL draft, as the 11th player chosen overall.
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Growing Up and High School Football
Leodis McKelvin grew up in Waycross, Georgia. He played football at Ware County High School for the Ware County Gators. As a junior, he made 60 tackles and caught six interceptions. He also returned eight passes for over 300 yards.
In his senior year, he continued to shine. He made 51 tackles, recovered three fumbles, and intercepted six passes. He helped his team achieve a 9–2 record and win a regional title in 2003. He was named the best defensive player in his area.
College Football Career
McKelvin went to Troy University and played for the Troy Trojans football team from 2004 to 2007. As a freshman, he played in all 12 games. He was a return man and a backup player in the secondary. He averaged 11.7 yards per punt return and 21.9 yards per kickoff return.
In his second year, he was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference first-team. He averaged 25.8 yards per kickoff return and 12.6 yards on punt returns. As a cornerback, he made 30 tackles and had five pass breakups.
His junior year was his first season as a regular starting cornerback. He made 66 tackles and started all 13 games. He also forced two fumbles. As a senior, he scored three touchdowns by returning punts. He was named All-Sun Belt in both his junior and senior years.
Professional Football Career
Joining the NFL: Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills chose Leodis McKelvin as the 11th player overall in the 2008 NFL draft. He was the first cornerback picked that year. In July 2008, McKelvin signed a five-year contract with the Bills.
He quickly showed his talent as a kick returner. In a preseason game, he returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
Rookie Season (2008)
McKelvin started his first NFL season as the fifth cornerback on the team. He played his first regular season game on September 28, 2008, and made two tackles. He got his first start on November 9.
On November 17, 2008, he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. The next week, he intercepted Tyler Thigpen twice, returning one for a 64-yard touchdown. After this game, he became a starting cornerback for the rest of the season. He finished his first year with 32 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, and one touchdown. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.
Second Season (2009)
In 2009, McKelvin became a starting cornerback for the Bills. In the first game of the season, he made a mistake by trying to return a kickoff from his own endzone late in the game. He fumbled the ball, which led to the other team scoring the winning touchdown. This was a tough moment for him.
On September 27, 2009, McKelvin broke his fibula (a bone in his lower leg). This injury ended his season early. He played in three games, making 11 tackles.
Comeback and Continued Play (2010-2012)
In 2010, McKelvin returned to play in all 16 games. He made 62 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and two interceptions. He also forced a fumble.
In 2011, he recorded his only interception of the season in a win against the New England Patriots. Later that season, he returned a punt for an 80-yard touchdown. He finished the year with 39 tackles and one interception.
In 2012, he continued to handle punt and kick return duties. He returned a punt for an 88-yard touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also intercepted his first pass of the season. Later, he returned another punt for a 79-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. He was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for this performance.
Later Years with the Bills (2013-2015)
In March 2013, McKelvin signed a new four-year contract with the Bills. He continued as a starting cornerback. In one game, he made a career-high ten tackles. He finished the season with 60 tackles and 19 deflected passes.
In 2014, he started the season strong with 13 tackles and a forced fumble. He also made his first interception of the season. In October, he intercepted two passes in one game. However, on November 13, 2014, McKelvin broke his ankle. This injury required surgery and ended his season. He had 48 tackles and a career-high four interceptions in just ten games.
He faced a setback in his recovery in 2015. He was placed on a special injury list and missed the first six weeks of the season. He returned to play in November and made his first interception of the season in December. He finished his last season with the Bills with 32 tackles and two interceptions. On March 4, 2016, the Bills released McKelvin.
Philadelphia Eagles
McKelvin signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 8, 2016. He played in 13 games for the Eagles in 2016. He recorded 43 tackles, 16 pass deflections, and two interceptions. One of his interceptions was returned 29 yards for a touchdown. On February 8, 2017, McKelvin was released by the Eagles.
