L.A. Avengers sign former USC star Kareem Kelly
November 3, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- Kareem Kelly, who set several receiving records during his collegiate career at the University of Southern California, has signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Avengers, head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.
Kelly (6-foot, 190 pounds) will be an offensive specialist in his rookie season in the Arena Football League.
"This is a great opportunity for me and I want to do everything in my power to help the Avengers win a lot of games and make it to the ArenaBowl," Kelly said. "I'm a fast learner, but it's going to take some time to get adjusted to Arena Football, because it is quite different. However, I'm confident that I'll do well and be a good addition to the squad."
After being selected in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft (203rd overall pick) by the New Orleans Saints, Kelly played in all four preseason games, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. He spent most of the 2003 campaign on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad. In 2004, Kelly was a member of the Chicago Bears' practice squad and stayed with the club until the start of the current NFL season.
As a senior at USC in 2002, Kelly became the school's all-time leading receiver with 204 catches (a mark that was broken the following year by Keary Colbert, 207). He still ranks second in Trojan history in career receiving yards with 3,104 (only Johnnie Morton accounted for more yards, 3,201) and averaged 15.2 yards per catch.
"Kareem has a great deal of ability and has the potential to become an excellent player in our league" said Hodgkiss, who has guided the Avengers into the playoffs in each of his previous four seasons at the helm. "He was a star player in college and has some NFL experience, so we are really looking forward to having him join us when training camp opens in January."
Kelly, who set Pacific-10 Conference and USC freshman records with 54 catches and 902 receiving yards in 1999, caught at least one pass in every game he played in at USC, setting an NCAA record with catches in 48 consecutive games (that mark was broken last season by Miami of Ohio's Michael Larkin, 50).
Joining fullback/linebacker Lonnie Ford and offensive/defensive lineman Bernard Riley, Kelly is the third Trojan on the Avenger roster. He played with Ford for three seasons (1999-2001) and with Riley for his entire collegiate career (1999-2002).
"It will be an honor to meet up with and play alongside those guys once again," Kelly said.
While at USC, Kelly also was a member of the track & field team. In his Trojan sprinting debut, he clocked a world junior record and American collegiate record 5.67 to place second in the 50-meter dash in the Los Angeles Indoor Invitational (tying him for the ninth fastest time in the world in 2000). Kelly also qualified for the World Junior Championships in the 100 and 200.
At Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School, Kelly was a 1998 Super Prep All-American and was regarded as one of the best high school players in the nation by ESPN, The Sporting News and USA Today. As a senior, he had 50 receptions for 1,096 yards (21.9 avg.) and 17 touchdowns, leading the Jackrabbits to the CIF Division I finals. As a 1997 junior, Kelly caught 43 passes for 560 yards (13.0 avg.) and nine scores, as Long Beach Poly won the CIF Division I title. He also starred on the track & field team, winning the 1998 state 200-meter championship in a meet-record 20.76 and running a leg of the state championship 400-meter relay. His top high school times were 10.28 in the 100 (the top time in the state in 1988) and 20.52 in the 200.
Born on April 1, 1981, Kelly currently resides in North Hollywood, Calif., with his two-year-old daughter, Laila Mae.
The Avengers will kick off their seventh season in the 20-year-old AFL at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Jan. 29, versus the Arizona Rattlers. Nine-game season ticket packages are on sale now. Please call 1-888-AVENGERS for more information or visit the team's official Website at www.laavengers.com.
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