Reggie Kelly Named 2023 SEC Football Legend
October 12, 2023 | Football
STARKVILLE – One of the best tight ends to wear the Maroon and White, Reggie Kelly, has been selected as Mississippi State's 2023 SEC Football Legend, the league office announced on Thursday.
The class will be honored at the 2023 SEC Football "Weekend of Champions" December 1-2 in Atlanta, Ga, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile on Friday, December 1 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, December 2.
Kelly, a native of Aberdeen, Miss., was a four-year letterwinner at Mississippi State from 1995-98. He caught 29 passes for 474 yards and a pair of touchdowns during his career, starting 22 games and playing in 44. During the Bulldog's 1998 run to an SEC West Division crown and berth into the SEC Championship Game, Kelly started all 12 games for Mississippi State while hauling in 12 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. His lone score in the 1998 season was against Arkansas, helping State secure a one-point victory and the tiebreak over the Razorbacks in the SEC Standings. That same season, Kelly earned First Team All-SEC honors.
A three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member, Kelly concluded his collegiate career playing in a New Year's Day Bowl game at the 1999 Cotton Bowl Classic. Kelly was drafted in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Kelly played for Atlanta for five seasons, including the first four of his career.
Following his four-year stint with the Falcons, Kelly played seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals (2003-2010). While in Cincinnati, Kelly caught 115 passes for 970 yards. In his 13-year NFL career, Kelly played in 184 games with 149 career starts. He hauled in 196 receptions for 1,767 career yards and five touchdowns. He won the Ed Block Courage Award in 2007, presented annually to a player from each NFL team who is voted by their teammates as a role model of inspiration, sportsmanship and courage while also serving as the NFL Players Association Rep.
Kelly earned his degree from Mississippi State in Industrial Technology. He is the founder and owner of KYVAN Foods located in Atlanta, which specializes in innovative and never-before-seen products with flavor combinations that are unique to the market. KYVAN Foods is sold at grocery stores such as Publix, Kroger, and other food service distributors. Kelly has also authored a book titled Prepared: Body, Mind and Spirit.
2023 SEC Football Legends
Alabama – Andre Smith, Offensive Tackle, 2006-08
Arkansas – Dick Bumpas, Defensive Tackle, 1968-70
Auburn – Ed King, Offensive Lineman, 1988-90
Florida – Shane Matthews, Quarterback, 1990-92
Georgia – Knowshon Moreno, Running Back, 2007-08
Kentucky – Wesley Woodyard, Linebacker, 2004-07
LSU – James Britt, Defensive Back, 1979-82
Ole Miss – Patrick Willis, Linebacker, 2003-06
Mississippi State – Reggie Kelly, Tight End, 1995-98
Missouri – Chase Coffman, Tight End, 2005-08
South Carolina – Marcus Lattimore, Running Back, 2010-12
Tennessee – Joey Kent, Wide Receiver, 1992-96
Texas A&M – Ray Childress, Defensive Lineman, 1981-84
Vanderbilt – Jamie Winborn, Linebacker, 1998-2000
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
𝐒𝐄𝐂 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝: 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲!
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) October 12, 2023
Huge shoutout to our guy, @ReggieKelly82, for being named our 2023 SEC Football Legend#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/uPYMuNjXmh
The class will be honored at the 2023 SEC Football "Weekend of Champions" December 1-2 in Atlanta, Ga, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile on Friday, December 1 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, December 2.
Kelly, a native of Aberdeen, Miss., was a four-year letterwinner at Mississippi State from 1995-98. He caught 29 passes for 474 yards and a pair of touchdowns during his career, starting 22 games and playing in 44. During the Bulldog's 1998 run to an SEC West Division crown and berth into the SEC Championship Game, Kelly started all 12 games for Mississippi State while hauling in 12 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. His lone score in the 1998 season was against Arkansas, helping State secure a one-point victory and the tiebreak over the Razorbacks in the SEC Standings. That same season, Kelly earned First Team All-SEC honors.
A three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member, Kelly concluded his collegiate career playing in a New Year's Day Bowl game at the 1999 Cotton Bowl Classic. Kelly was drafted in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Kelly played for Atlanta for five seasons, including the first four of his career.
Following his four-year stint with the Falcons, Kelly played seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals (2003-2010). While in Cincinnati, Kelly caught 115 passes for 970 yards. In his 13-year NFL career, Kelly played in 184 games with 149 career starts. He hauled in 196 receptions for 1,767 career yards and five touchdowns. He won the Ed Block Courage Award in 2007, presented annually to a player from each NFL team who is voted by their teammates as a role model of inspiration, sportsmanship and courage while also serving as the NFL Players Association Rep.
Kelly earned his degree from Mississippi State in Industrial Technology. He is the founder and owner of KYVAN Foods located in Atlanta, which specializes in innovative and never-before-seen products with flavor combinations that are unique to the market. KYVAN Foods is sold at grocery stores such as Publix, Kroger, and other food service distributors. Kelly has also authored a book titled Prepared: Body, Mind and Spirit.
2023 SEC Football Legends
Alabama – Andre Smith, Offensive Tackle, 2006-08
Arkansas – Dick Bumpas, Defensive Tackle, 1968-70
Auburn – Ed King, Offensive Lineman, 1988-90
Florida – Shane Matthews, Quarterback, 1990-92
Georgia – Knowshon Moreno, Running Back, 2007-08
Kentucky – Wesley Woodyard, Linebacker, 2004-07
LSU – James Britt, Defensive Back, 1979-82
Ole Miss – Patrick Willis, Linebacker, 2003-06
Mississippi State – Reggie Kelly, Tight End, 1995-98
Missouri – Chase Coffman, Tight End, 2005-08
South Carolina – Marcus Lattimore, Running Back, 2010-12
Tennessee – Joey Kent, Wide Receiver, 1992-96
Texas A&M – Ray Childress, Defensive Lineman, 1981-84
Vanderbilt – Jamie Winborn, Linebacker, 1998-2000
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
– HailState.com –
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