Several media sources are reporting that Oklahoma football linebacker Caleb Kelley has suffered a knee injury that is likely to keep him out of the 2021 season.
The fifth-year senior reportedly suffered the injury at practice on Monday. SoonerScoop.com reported that preliminary tests on the field indicated a torn ACL.
Kelly, Oklahoma’s lone five-star recruit in the 2016 class, has experienced a string of misfortune the past couple of seasons. The Fresno, California, native started 19 games at outside linebacker for the Sooners his freshman and sophomore seasons. The OU coaching staff moved Kelly inside to start the 2018 season, but he was beaten out for the starting spot by Curtis Bolton.
Midway through the ’18 season, Kelly moved back outside at weakside linebacker and started the last five games, making 14 tackles. In the Sooners’ critical 59-56 win at West Virginia that earned OU a spot in the Big 12 Championship game, Kelly came up with a loose ball and ran it in for an important touchdown in the late going of the game.
For the 2019 season, Kelly was slotted to move back inside under new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch but tore his ACL in the spring. Although he was expected to miss the entire season, he managed to make it back for the final four games. Because he saw action in no more than four games he was able to preserve a redshirt.
Kelly’s future in OU football is uncertain. He could petition the NCAA for a sixth year or eligibility, which would probably be granted, but he might just decide, with all the injuries he has suffered in his collegiate career, to call it quits.
In 41 games in his Oklahoma career, Kelly is credited with 160 tackles, including 11 for loss, five quarterback sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.