BYU outside linebacker Jack Kelly is among the more than 300 now former college football players participating in this week's NFL Combine. Kelly will take the stage on Thursday, along with the other linebackers, looking to improve their draft stock. Before we look ahead at Kelly's NFL future, let's pause for a moment and take a look back at his five best games as a BYU Cougar.
No. 5 - 2025 at ECU
Stats: 7 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2 tackles for loss
Many BYU pundits were nervous about the Week 3 trip to ECU to take on a good Pirates team on the other side of the country. The Cougars were 2-0 and still on the outside looking in on the Top 25 rankings and could ill afford a poor showing against a non-Power Four foe. Jack Kelly helped power BYU to an easy 34-13 win with both of his sacks happening on third downs that led to punts on the next play, killing two of ECU's drives.
No. 4 - 2025 at Texas Tech (regular season)
Stats: 7 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass defended
When 8-0 and then No. 7 ranked BYU headed to Lubbock to take on the 9-0 and No. 8 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders, the Cougars needed every player to be at their best. And Jack Kelly was with seven tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and a pass defended. However, BYU's offense didn't both to show up in a 29-7 blowout that cast a shadow over the rest of the Cougars outstanding season. Kelly may have been the best individual player in a BYU uniform on that otherwise miserable day.
No. 3 - 2025 vs. UCF
Stats: 6 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble
Last year BYU was 10-1 and ranked No. 11 as they rolled into their regular season finale against UCF. Kelly was dominant against the Knights with two sacks and a forced fumble. Early in the third quarter BYU led 24-14 when a Jack Kelly sack forced a UCF punt that resulted in a Parker Kingston punt return touchdown. Later, with BYU up 17 early in the fourth quarter, Kelly's strip-sack ended a UCF drive near midfield, helping the Cougars put the game away.
No. 2 - 2025 vs. Utah
Stats: 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack
In BYU's thrilling 24-21 win against rival Utah last year Jack Kelly tied his BYU career-high with seven tackles while also racking up a tackle for loss and a sack. He did that against a Utah team sporting two potential first round picks at tackle. His sack on 4th-and-15 with just over three minutes left in the game was crucial in BYU doing just enough to close out the Utes.
No. 1 - 2024 vs. Houston
Stats: 7 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception
As BYU fans remember all too well, the 2024 Cougars started the season 9-0 before gut-punch back-to-back losses against Kansas and Arizona State. The final game of the 2024 Big 12 slate was a home matchup against Houston, and it was a must-win to end BYU's two-game losing streak. Kelly was not only dominant, he was clutch. His forced fumble came on a fourth down strip-sack in the fourth quarter that led to BYU's game-sealing touchdown to salt away the much needed victory.