The questions would come at Florida State offensive lineman Derrick Kelly like blitzing linebackers.
Why aren’t you playing anymore?
We want to come watch this weekend. Will you be back in the lineup?
Are you going to be back on the field this season?
This has been the routine for Kelly during each of the past two seasons. As a product of East Gadsden High, less than 25 miles from FSU’s campus, Kelly had numerous friends and family members who wanted to come watch their favorite player suit up for the hometown Seminoles.
But every time his career started ramping up, it seemed as if injuries would set him back.
Kelly started four games at right tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2015 before going down with a season-ending knee injury. He came back and started two games at left guard last season but was plagued with other physical ailments that stunted his progress.
Sitting in the Seminoles’ players’ lounge recently, Kelly recounted his painful list of injuries: There was a strained hip flexor and a sprained ankle. There also was a concussion and, of course, the season-ending knee surgery. Each caused him to miss valuable practice and game time.
And although this was all a new experience for him -- Kelly said he could recall only one injury during his entire high school career -- the 6-foot-5, 323-pounder said he never worried that his career might be in danger.
“I always kept hope,” Kelly said. “I just kept working in the offseason, trying to rehab on my knee and other injuries. And just building my strength back up. … I just had to keep a level head and believe that in due time I would be back. I always remembered to be humble and know that my time was coming soon.”
Kelly’s time could be now.
After playing right tackle and both guard positions during his first three years at FSU, Kelly made the surprising move to left tackle this preseason. The redshirt junior saw some practice time at the position during the spring, but he didn’t make a serious run at it until midway through August camp.
At the time, FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett and head coach Jimbo Fisher told the redshirt junior they just wanted to see how he looked there. They wanted him to be ready to play any of four positions -- left or right tackle and left or right guard.
