Leodis McKelvin reading

By Drew Champlin

Published: April 24, 2008

Here’s the story I wrote on Leodis McKelvin, who will be Troy’s top NFL Draft pick this weekend.

But we talked for several minutes Tuesday, and obviously I couldn’t fit it all in the story. Here’s most of the rest of the conversation.

On his father, Lee Otis (double name, I can’t remember his last name but it’s not McKelvin) and their relationship, which started up again his senior year of high school. Did he think he was getting back in his life because of athletics?

“He started being a father figure to me. Coming out of high school, they can’t tell if I was going to do something like this or not. He was seeing if I was doing what I was supposed to do to go to college. I knew him, but he wasn’t there.

“We talk, but not every day. I talked to him the other day. He wanted to know where we were going to have the (draft) party because he wanted to come.“

On Troy holding Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson to just 2 catches for 9 yards in 2006.

“Not only me, but it was everyone else. I felt like I could play anytime before that happened, but that was anouther source of credibility I could put on my resume.“

Would you have gone to New York for the NFL Draft if invited?

“Yes. Who wouldn’t want to go up there and be on TV and have all that exposure going up there? Everybody at home gets to see you on TV.“

Thoughts on not getting invited.

“I knew they were going to select a few players. If they had selected a few players, my name might have been thrown up there. It wasn’t, so oh well, I’ll watch it on TV.“

Some trip highlights:

“I had the best steak I’ve ever had in Washington and stayed in the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in.“ (he couldn’t remember the names of the hotel and restaurant)

“I went through one airport where I gave this dude my ID, he looked at me kinda funny. I asked what, and he said, ‘I know you for some reason.’ That was the only place where someone acted like they knew who I was.“

“Florida was great weather. Buffalo was cold. It gets cold up there at night and they say it starts snowing real early.“

What if Buffalo’s your new team? Can you learn to enjoy the cold?

“If they sign me, I’ll be out there making snow angels. It doesn’t matter to me.“

If I’m an NFL GM, why should I draft you?
“I’m a shut-down corner and plus I’m a dynamic. I’m going to get you the best field position. The only thing you’ve got to do is grind it out and get some points.“

Do you correct people when they say Troy State?

“I always correct them. If coaches come to me and say ‘Troy State,’ I say ‘Troy. Troy University.’ When I came here, it was Troy University, so that’s all I know.“

On Troy’s future

“Troy’s going to be on the rise in just a matter of time. I’d tell all the other teams to step up because Troy’s on the rise and they’re going to come at them and I’m behind them 100 percent.“