Jermaine Kelly

College career

After his second year at the University of Washington, Kelly transferred to San Jose State due to family obligations and a history of injuries. He redshirted the 2015 season and played for the Spartans from 2016 to 2017.

In 25 games with 17 starts, he made 79 tackles (one for loss), one interception, and 12 passes defended. His lone interception was a 68-yard touchdown return in a 61–10 loss to Utah State on September 23, 2017. As a junior, he had 26 tackles and one fumble recovery; in 2017, he recorded 53 tackles, one sack, and one interception.

Professional career

Kelly was selected by the Houston Texans in the seventh round, 222nd overall, of the 2018 NFL draft. He was placed on injured reserve on September 3, 2018. On August 16, 2019, he was waived/injured by the Texans and placed on injured reserve, then waived on August 24.

He signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad on December 11, 2019, re-signed on February 5, 2020, and was waived on July 28, 2020. Kelly signed with the BC Lions of the CFL on March 11, 2021, but did not make an appearance during the 2021 season. He signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on April 28, 2022, and was released on May 14, 2022.

He signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL on May 25, 2022. After the Bandits took a hiatus, Kelly and all other Bandits players were transferred to the Memphis Showboats. He became a free agent after the 2023 season.

Did You Know?

• Kelly was an ESPN three-star recruit who received offers from 13 schools, including Arizona, UCLA, USC, and Washington.
• He committed to play for Washington on January 7, 2013.