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Jason Kelce
File:Jason Kelce.JPG
Kelce in the 2013 NFL season.
No. 62     Philadelphia Eagles
Center
Personal information
Date of birth: (1987-11-05) November 5, 1987 (age 36)
Place of birth: Cleveland, Ohio
High School: Cleveland Heights (OH)
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Weight: 295 lb (134 kg)
Career information
College: Cincinnati
NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 6 / Pick: 191
Debuted in 2011 for the Philadelphia Eagles
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Second-team All-Big East honors (2009, 2010)
  • Honorable mention All-America honors (2010)
  • Third-team Sophomore All-America honors (2008)
  • Ed Block Courage Award (2013)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2013
Games played     34
Games started     34

Jason D. Kelce (/ˈkɛlˌs/; born November 5, 1987) is an American football center for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cincinnati.

College career

A former walk-on linebacker, Kelce switched to offensive line after redshirting his initial year at Cincinnati, seeing action at center and guard in nine contests in 2007. As a sophomore in 2008, he made 13 starts at left guard, as part of an offensive line that also including Jeff Linkenbach, Trevor Canfield, and Khalil El-Amin, which helped the UC offense average 27.3 points and 375.3 yards of total offense per contest.

In 2009, Kelce earned second-team All-Big East honors after starting 13 games at left guard. He was moved to center for his senior season in 2010, replacing a graduated Chris Jurek.

Professional career

2011 NFL Draft

Despite lacking "true NFL size", Kelce was projected a fourth to fifth round pick.[1] He ran the fastest 40-yard dash time of all offensive linemen at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, with a 4.89-second time. He had an appendectomy on March 11 after he was diagnosed with appendicitis.[2]

Pre-draft measureables
Ht Wt 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
6 ft 2⅝ in 280 lb 4.89 s 1.70 s 2.83 s 4.14 s 7.22 s 30½ in 9 ft 2 in

Philadelphia Eagles

Kelce was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round (191st overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.[3] Kelce was unable to practice or sign a contract until the NFL lockout was lifted on July 25, 2011. He was signed to a four-year contract on July 27.[4] Kelce battled incumbent starter Jamaal Jackson for the center job early in training camp in August.[5] New offensive line coach Howard Mudd envisioned Kelce as in the mold of Indianapolis Colts five-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, whom Mudd coached in Indianapolis for eleven seasons.[6] First round pick and fellow rookie Danny Watkins compared Kelce to a hedgehog due to his spiky hair and facial hair, in addition to his quickness and stoutness.[7] Kelce received all of the first-team reps in the week before the team's third preseason game.[8] He started in the third preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, and allowed a sack and was penalized for holding.[9] Despite his performance, Kelce was named the starter for the season on August 29.[10]

In 2012, Kelce was named the starting center for the second consecutive year. On September 16, 2012, he was injured in the second game against the Baltimore Ravens on a running play. Kelce missed the rest of the 2012 season due to a knee injury. Kelce suffered MCL (Medial collateral ligament) and ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament) tears in Sunday's victory over Baltimore.[11]

On February 27th, Kelce agreed to a six-year, $37.5 million contract extension, with $13 million guaranteed, according to agent Jason Bernstein. Kelce had a terrific, and surprising 2013 performance and is now considered one of the very best centers in football[12]

References

  1. "Jason Kelce". CNN. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/draft-2011/players/59533.html.
  2. Wilson, Aaron (March 11, 2011). "Jason Kelce has successful appendectomy". nationalfootballpost.com. http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Jason-Kelce-has-successful-appendectomy.html. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  3. Fierro, Nick (April 30, 2011). "Eagles go after LB, K in fourth round". The Morning Call. http://articles.mcall.com/2011-04-30/sports/mc-eagles-draft-update-0430-20110430_1_david-akers-casey-matthews-nfl-lockout. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  4. Associated Press (July 27, 2011). "Philadelphia Eagles have reached agreements with all 2011 draft picks except No. 1 Danny Watkins". lehighvalleylive.com. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/philadelphia_eagles_have_reach.html. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  5. McLane, Jeff and Jonathan Tamari (August 7, 2011). "Harris may be solidifying role as Eagles right tackle". Philadelphia Inquirer. http://articles.philly.com/2011-08-07/news/29861641_1_juqua-parker-king-dunlap-andy-reid. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  6. Rohan, Tim (August 5, 2011). "Eagles rookie Kelce fits Mudd's prototype". Philadelphia Inquirer. http://articles.philly.com/2011-08-05/news/29854869_1_jackson-injury-jamaal-jackson-eagles-first-round. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  7. Bowen, Les (August 8, 2011). "Eagles rookie center Kelce rising to starting status". Philadelphia Inquirer. http://articles.philly.com/2011-08-08/sports/29864682_1_mudd-jamaal-jackson-facial-hair. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  8. Frank, Reuben (August 20, 2011). "Eagles to test rookie Kelce in starting center role". CSN Philly. http://www.csnphilly.com/08/20/11/Eagles-to-test-rookie-Kelce-in-starting-/news_eagles.html?blockID=551742&feedID=704. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  9. Tamari, Jonathan (August 25, 2011). "Eagles rookies Kelce, Watkins get off to rough start against Browns". Philadelphia Inquirer. http://articles.philly.com/2011-08-25/news/29927341_1_michael-vick-jamaal-jackson-eagles. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  10. Frank, Reuben (August 29, 2011). "Eagles name rookie Kelce starting center". CSN Philly. http://www.csnphilly.com/08/29/11/Eagles-name-rookie-Kelce-starting-center/news_eagles.html?blockID=555994&feedID=704. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  11. Eaglerarian Blog (September 18, 2012). "Kelcie's Season Over; ACL Reconstruction". Philly.com. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dneagles/170184195.html. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
  12. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10525168/philadelphia-eagles-give-riley-cooper-jason-kelce-new-contracts

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Mike McGlynn
Starting Center of the Philadelphia Eagles
2011–2012
Succeeded by
Dallas Reynolds
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