Since arriving on campus, expectations have run high for former 5-star recruit, Caleb Kelly. Starting 13 games for the Oklahoma Sooners at outside linebacker as a sophomore, Kelly entered a this season competing for time at inside linebacker. Unable to secure the starting spot on the depth chart, the future of the California native remains in a state of flux.
On Saturday, Curtis Bolton found himself on the sideline after taking a hit to the groin forcing the coaching staff to make a decision. Ultimately, preferred walk-on Bryan Mead trotted out onto the field to fill the void. It’s a choice the coaching staff defended following the game which lead to the conversation of Caleb Kelly redshirting this season.
“We’re kind of evaluating that position right now. Caleb’s doing a good job. We are looking at it. He is a guy that does have a redshirt year,” Head Coach Lincoln Riley said. Echoing the sentiment, Mike Stoops said, “We’d hate to waste a year just kind of rotating two guys of that magnitude. We feel like Caleb has a huge upside and we want him to develop into the player that we think he can be.”
Again the topic surfaced as the final question of the day during Coach Riley’s Weekly Press Conference on Monday afternoon. As it currently stands, Kelly has appeared in two of the three games this season. The new rule in place allows a player to enter four separate contests before the idea of a redshirt is removed from the table.
A decision has yet to be made though on that front as Coach Riley reiterated the fact that he’s not willing to dive into the details. The coaching staff wants the player to have ownership in the choice though as well. Clearly, it’s an ongoing situation but it makes one question the health of Kelly. Recalling the instance correctly, the linebacker suffered a shoulder injury during the game against Tulane in 2017. Yet, Kelly played the remaining eleven games with a torn labrum.
We’ll keep you up to date as this situation develops and unfolds.