Year: 2012
Position: Athlete
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 190 pounds
40: 4.5 seconds
Bench: 265
Squat: 450
Shuttle: 4.1 seconds
School: University School
City, State: Hunting Valley, Ohio
The Skinny: John McKelvey began his junior season at running back then transitioned to wide receiver.
His speed and athleticism made the transition seamless and he accounted for over 1,200 yards of offense and 23 scores. He also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.
On film, McKelvey’s 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash is evident and allows him to run away from defenders and his ability to quickly change directions?thanks to a 4.1-second time in the shuttle run?makes him a threat in the open field.
Strengths: McKelvey typically is among the fastest players on the field and he takes advantage of that speed…his size allows him to shake out of or away from would-be tacklers…his stutter step gives him the ability to change directions in a hurry and he quickly accelerates to full speed…his outstanding vision allows him to find open running lanes…displays patience in the return game, allowing his blockers to create huge seams to run through.
Areas for Improvement: McKelvey moved to wide receiver from running back and while the transition was smooth he’s got some work to do to fine-tune his route running, but that’s to be expected of any player in a new position…out of the backfield, he tended to run upright with little control of the football, another minor adjustment should he find himself back at running back.
Outlook: McKelvey has plenty of talent, but University’s schedule isn’t exactly filled with teams that often send players to the Division I level in college. Would he be as successful playing against more talented teams, where he isn’t always the fastest guy on the field?
That’s the question college coaches will have to answer before extending a scholarship offer to McKelvey. He’s already drawn interest from several BCS programs and a strong performance on the summer camp/combine circuit could boost his recruiting stock. He’s going to have to show college coaches he isn’t just a speedy athlete playing against average competition.
McKelvey’s versatility is a plus. He excelled at running back, wide receiver and on special teams. He’s especially dangerous in the open field, and that’s a trait that isn’t coached. Instinct and vision are natural abilities and McKelvey possesses both.
In 2010, University School quarterback Danny Frate signed with Harvard. With a reported 2.7 gpa, McKelvey may not draw the same attention from Ivy League schools, but mid-major programs should take notice of McKelvey’s talents.