Senior Bowl standout Kelly already has ties to Steelers, Tomlin

MOBILE, Ala. -- Of all the people Kyu Blu Kelly expected to see during Senior Bowl week, Mike Tomlin wasn't one of them.

Sure, every player meets with every team during the week in Mobile, but that doesn't always mean meeting the head coach. And, of all the places he might have suspected to see Tomlin if he knew he was in town, on the football field at Hancock Whitney Stadium was the last place he'd suspect.

"No, I had no idea," Kelly told me after practice on Thursday afternoon. "He found his way to me. I was just coming out to practice."

Even though he spent the vast majority of his time during practice on Tuesday and Wednesday zeroed in on the offensive and defensive line play, Tomlin found his way to Kelly for multiple reasons.

Tomlin knows the Kelly family quite well. Kelly's father, Brian Kelly, played cornerback for the Buccaneers while Tomlin served as the team's secondary coach from 2001-05. Kelly's father wasn't any slouch either. Brian played for the Buccaneers for 10 seasons and played the 11th and final season of his career with the Lions. In 2002, Brian was fifth on a dominant Tampa Bay defense with 67 tackles and led the NFL with eight interceptions. While Brian wasn't one of the Buccaneers to intercept five passes in their Super Bowl victory over the Raiders that season, he did lead the team with eight tackles in the game.

Kelly was born in 2001, right after Tony Dungy hired Tomlin. After Tomlin moved on in his coaching career, and long after Brian's playing days were over, Kelly heard stories about Tomlin while growing up. It's clear that Tomlin had a big impact on Brian.

"He said he's one of the greatest mentors on and off the field and is really devoted to his players and the game," Kelly said. "He said he's really tuned into technique and how to play (defensive back) in all areas -- being physical, making sure you cover. All of those things."

So, when Tomlin came over in Kelly's direction during practice, it wasn't any old visit to a football prospect. And, it really meant a lot to Kelly for multiple reasons.

"He coached my dad. So, for me, it's surreal," Kelly said. "Mike T is one of the greatest in the world at coaching. We had some short interactions, checking up on me and checking up on the family. He's a great guy."

But, the family ties between Kelly and Tomlin weren't the only or even the primary reason for the interactions. As a cornerback, Kelly plays a position of need for the Steelers. Kelly was a four-year player at Stanford, logging 156 combined tackles, 13 passes defended and three interceptions over 38 games. Those numbers, in which the majority came during his junior and senior years, were good enough to make him a projected fourth-round pick in this April's draft.

However, there's an argument that can be made that Kelly elevated his draft stock more than any player during three days of practice at the Senior Bowl. After turning in a solid day on Day 1, Kelly's second day was highlighted by two intercepted passes and nearly picked off a third after jumping a route with exceptional timing.

In Day 3, Kelly continued to find success more often than not by staying competitive in every rep. On this particular play, Kelly did enough to stick with UNC-Charlotte's Grant Dubose and make a play on a pass thrown on the other side of the receiver. Kelly got just enough of the ball to make the pass incomplete:

"Each day I got better," Kelly said. "I was getting my feet wet the first day. I hadn't played football since Nov. 25. It was just getting my feet wet, coming back into myself. But, every day was just forgetting the day before. Just come out and stack a day. Stack days in front of the coaches and GMs was my plan."

There's still the game to be played on Saturday, but so far, it's mission accomplished for Kelly. According to various scouting reports, Kelly's weaknesses include missing too many big plays and going for strips rather than tackles in run support. But, coming away with success while being aggressive is the best thing he could do in front of scouts and team executives.

For the Steelers, Kelly wouldn't be an option until the third round at the absolute earliest. Even then, it might be too much of a reach. Kelly has raw talent and displayed it quite well in Mobile. Showing that he's coachable could be something else that elevates his draft stock. After all, Kelly is on the National Team at the Senior Bowl, the team in which Steelers' secondary coach Grady Brown is the defensive coordinator.

If the Steelers focus their attention on the trenches and/or linebacker in the first three rounds, Kelly could be a legitimate option in the fourth round. Playing under Tomlin would be something special for Kelly.

"(It'd be) surreal," Kelly said. "My own father played under him. And now I'd be playing under him? It would be a crazy moment. It's the same thing here. My dad played in the Reese's Bowl as well. Me being here, playing the same position, so many things. It would be a blessing, for sure."

MORE FROM SENIOR BOWL

• This cornerback class looks pretty deep. There are a few options at the top with Illinois' Devon Witherspoon, Oregon's Christian Gonzalez, South Carolina's Cam Smith and Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. that could all be available in the first round. But, this week, Kelly and a few others -- including Illinois' Jartavius Martin, Maryland's Jakorian Bennett and Iowa's Riley Moss -- have shown enough to solidify the depth of the position.

• Inside linebacker looks good too. If the Steelers don't sign a big-name linebacker in free agency, the draft could be a good place to address the position. There is some external buzz that Clemson's Trenton Simpson could go as high as No. 17 to the Steelers. In addition, names such as Washington State's Daiyan Henley, Texas' DeMarvion Overshown and Tulane's Dorian Williams could be options in the second or third rounds. 

In addition, potential fifth-round picks such as Cincinnati's Ivan Pace Jr. has put some good stuff on tape this week:

• It's not necessarily a position of need, but if the Steelers don't re-sign Zach Gentry, tight end could be an interesting choice for the Steelers in the first half of the draft. The position is pretty deep this year, and Oregon State's Luke Musgrave could be an option for the Steelers at No. 32 overall. He's had plenty of good moments this week.

• Ohio State right tackle Dawand Jones did not practice again Thursday, but was on the sideline wearing his jersey over street clothes. He only practiced on Tuesday due to a medical issue, according to Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy. He hasn't yet been ruled out of playing in the game on Saturday. It's a shame because his one day of practice was the talk around the stadium. He really stood a chance to really elevate his stock here.

• As I mentioned on Wednesday, Wisconsin nose tackle Keeanu Benton has been another standout here and is on the Steelers' radar as a potential third-round pick. Benton spent the entirety of the 10-minute media session after practice speaking with scouts. He's a hot commodity that could even sneak into the second round. It's looking more and more as if he's a lock to be selected on Day 2 of the draft.

• After sticking his nose in the thick of things over the first two days of practice, I did not see Tomlin anywhere on the field. I did, however, spot assistant GM Andy Weidl on the sideline. Plenty of Steelers representation in Mobile this week.