2016 Football Roster
Jersey Number 4
Darwyn Kelly
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-1 / 210
- Position:
- DB
- Hometown:
- Upper Marlboro, Md.
- High School:
- H.D. Woodson
2016 Junior
- Eight games played
- Missed four games with injuries
- 17 tackles (11 solo) on the season
- Career highs in tackles (6) and solo tackles (6) at Northwestern in the season finale
- Academic All-Big Ten
2015 Sophomore
- Played in all 12 games, primarily on special teams
- One tackle in the season opener vs. Kent State
- Academic All-Big Ten
2014 Redshirt Freshman
- Did not play in 2014 after battling injuries for most of the season
2013 Freshman
- Redshirted the 2013 season
High School
- Three-star recruit by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports
- Ranked the No. 4 player in Washington, D.C. by 247Sports and the No. 5 player in D.C. by Rivals
- Ranked the No. 66 safety in the nation by 247Sports
- Had 72 tackles as a junior and 30 tackles in a shortened senior season at H.D. Woodson High School
- Totaled nine interceptions (five as a junior and four as a senior) his last two seasons
- Earned honorable-mention All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference honors as a junior
- Lettered in track as a sophomore and junior and all four years in football
- Played at Carroll High School of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference as a junior
Personal
- Born June 10, 1995
- Father is Darwin Kelly
- Mother is Chavella Kelly
- Biggest thrill in sports is returning interceptions for touchdowns, of which he had two against Wilson H.S. in 2012 (78 and 95 yards)
- Favorite player is NFL great Ed Reed
- Was on the Academic Honor Roll three years in high school
- Grew up following D.C. native Tavon Wilson's career at Illinois
- Says his father most influenced his athletic career by getting him involved in sports at an early age and encouraging him to do his best
- Is active in his church and has volunteered his time at a local soup kitchen in the D.C. area
- Majoring in sport management
Career Highs
Tackles: 4 at Michigan, 10/22/16
Solos: 2 vs. Minnesota, 10/29/16
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
