Texas Tech University Athletics
2024 Football Roster
Roster
Josh Kelly
- Position:
- Wide Receiver
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 195
- Class:
- Super-Senior
- Hometown:
- Fresno, Calif.
- High School:
- San Joaquin Memorial
2024 SEASON (SUPER SENIOR)
Shined in his lone season as a Red Raider โฆ became Texas Techโs first 1,000-yard receiver since Antoine Wesley in 2018 after leading the Red Raiders โฆ led the team with 89 catches for 1,023 yards over 12 regular season games, all starts โฆ missed only the AutoZone Liberty Bowl matchup against Arkansas (12/27) โฆ combined with Tahj Brooks to become the first 1,500-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver in program history โฆ marked the most receptions and receiving yards of his collegiate career โฆ was among the nationโs leaders in total receptions after catching seven or passes in nine different games โฆ had at least one catch in all 12 games played โฆ recorded five games with at least 100 receiving yards and was over 80 yards in two other contests โฆ four of his 100-yard outings came during Big 12 play โฆ easily led the FBS with 32 receptions on third downs, which resulted in 19 first downs โฆ totaled 340 of his receiving yards on third downs alone โฆ had 42 of his catches result in at least 10 yards with 17 going for 20 yards and six of at least 30 yards โฆ saw action as a punt returner early in the year with eight returns for 29 yards on the year โฆ special teams role pushed him over 100 all-purpose yards in seven different games โฆ received a 77.2 overall offensive grade from Pro Football Focus, which was third-highest on the team behind only Tahj Brooks and Behren Morton โฆ credited with 768 offensive snaps by the publication, which ranked seventh overall and second in the wide receiver room behind only Coy Eakin โฆ publication credited him with 605 yards after catch, easily the most in his career, after forcing 26 missed tackles โฆ targeted 123 times with only six drops overall โฆ IN NCAA RANKINGS: closed the season ranked seventh in the FBS for receptions per game (7.4), ninth for total receptions (89), 19th for receiving yards per game (85.3) and 25th for total receiving yards (1,023) โฆ was tied for 16th overall with 42 catches of at least 10 yards and then tied for 28th with 17 catches of at least 20 yards โฆ easily led the FBS in third-down receptions (32) with the next-closest receiver being at 25 catches โฆ his 340 receiving yards on third down ranked seventh overall in the FBS โฆ recorded 77 receptions against power conference opponents, which was third in the FBS, trailing only Tyler Warren of Penn State (79) and Iowa Stateโs Jayden Higgins (78) โฆ was 13th nationally with 831 receiving yards against power conference foes โฆ IN BIG 12 RANKINGS: was second in the league for receptions per game as well as seventh for both receiving yards per game and total receiving yards โฆ ranked third overall for total receptions, trailing only Travis Hunter of Colorado (96) and Oklahoma Stateโs Brennan Presley (90) โฆ led the conference for third down receptions (32) and receptions against power conference foes (77) โฆย SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: made quite the first impression on Red Raider fans in the season opener with 10 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown against Abilene Christian (8/31) โฆ set a new career high for receptions in the win while finishing only three receiving yards shy of his career mark โฆ was the eighth career 100-yard game of his career at the time โฆ connected with Behren Morton for his first touchdown as a Red Raider with 4:50 remaining in the third quarter following a 35-yard strike on a flea-flicker play โฆ followed with nine catches for 95 yards the following week in his return to Washington State (9/7) โฆ limited to a season-low two catches for 36 yards in the non-conference finale against North Texas (9/14) after sitting out the second half with the Red Raiders leading 52-7 at the break โฆ caught his second touchdown of the season versus the Mean Green on a 10-yard strike from Morton to cap Texas Techโs opening drive โฆ found the end zone again a week later in the Big 12 opener against Arizona State (9/21) as part of 10 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown โฆ touchdown came via a 20-yard pass from Morton to give the Red Raiders a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter โฆ hit the 100-yard mark again the following week with eight catches for 111 yards in the win over Cincinnati (9/28) โฆ held to five catches for 27 yards in the road win at Arizona (10/5) โฆ recorded seven or more catches in five of the remaining six games with lone exception being at Oklahoma State (11/23) with four grabs for 31 yards โฆ run started with nine catches for 76 yards against Baylor (10/19) followed by seven receptions for 19 yards at TCU (10/26) โฆ posted back-to-back successful games to start the month of November with eight catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns at Iowa State (11/2) and eight catches for 106 yards versus Colorado (11/9) โฆ the performance versus the Cyclones marked the third multi-touchdown game of his career and first as a Red Raider โฆ had touchdown catches of 35 yards early in the first quarter and then 19 yards late in the third quarter to push the Red Raiders to a ranked road win โฆ closed his Red Raider career with nine catches for 150 yards in the rout over West Virginia, which pushed him over 1,000 yards for the season โฆ elected to forego Texas Techโs appearance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to start preparations for his NFL career โฆ AWARDS AND HONORS: selected to the All-Big 12 second team by the conference coaches โฆ also recognized as a first team All-Texas Team honoree by Dave Campbellโs Texas Football โฆ preseason candidate on the watch lists for the Biletnikoff Award and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.
PRIOR TO TEXAS TECH
Arrived at Texas Tech as a graduate transfer following one season at Washington State (2023) and four seasons at Fresno State (2019-22) โฆ will spend his final season of eligibility with the Red Raiders โฆ appeared in 38 career games and has made 29 starts โฆ owns 148 catchesย amounting to 2,228 receiving yardsย to go along withย 12 touchdowns over his career โฆ 2023 SEASON (SENIOR/WASHINGTON STATE): among the top wide receivers in the country during his lone season as a Cougar โฆ started in all 12 games, catching 61 passes for 923 yards and eight touchdowns โฆ ranked 42nd nationally in total receiving yards (923) and 37th in receiving yards per game (76.9) โฆ led the Cougars in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and ranked second at WSU for receptions for one of the nationโs top passing offenses โฆ Washington State ranked fourth nationally with 336.8 passing yards per game โฆ had four games with at least 100 receiving yards on the season, including each of the final three contests โฆ recorded five or more catches in eight different games overall โฆ started his tenure with seven catches for 97 yards and a touchdown at Colorado State (9/2) โฆ best performance of the season came in a win over Oregon State (9/23), finishing with eight catches for a career-high 159 yards and three touchdowns โฆ posted 130 receiving yards in back-to-back weeks late in the season thanks to nine catches at Cal (11/11) and six receptions in rout of Colorado (11/17) โฆ closed the season with eight catches for 106 yards and a touchdown in the Apple Cup versus No. 2 Washington (11/25) โฆ 2022 SEASON (JUNIOR/FRESNO STATE): played in six games and started four in an injury-riddled season ... entered season as a starter ... started first three contests before suffering an injury at then-No. 7 USC (9/17) ... missed four-straight games before returning for next three contests (started one) ... missed final four games of the season after three-game return ... totaled 12 receptions for 207 yards in six-game season ... seven receptions for 134 yards came during first two starts when healthy โฆ had three receptions for 39 yards in season-opening win over Cal Poly (9/1) โฆ totaled season-highs of four receptions and 95 yards against Oregon State (9/10) in week twoโฆ had three catches for 29 yards in a win at Hawaiโi (11/5) โฆ posted two catches for 44 yards in fourth start of season at UNLV (11/11) โฆ 2021 SEASON (SOPHOMORE/FRESNO STATE): All-Mountain West honorable mention wide receiver โฆ played in all 13 games, starting in nine contests โฆ was the teamโs second-leading receiver with 52 catches for 778 yards โฆ had three touchdowns โฆ averaged 59.8 yards receiving per game 15.0 yards per catch โฆ led the team with three 100-yard receiving performances โฆ had a career-best 127 yards receiving against Cal Poly (9/11) ... also scored two touchdowns against the Mustangs โฆ followed that performance up with a 120-yard performance on eight catches against then-No. 13 UCLA (9/18) โฆ had a season-long 69-yard reception at then-No. 21 San Diego State (10/30) โฆ also scored a touchdown against New Mexico (11/13) โฆ had at least one reception in each game โฆ had a 28-yard run against UNLV โฆ helped Fresno State to two wins over ranked opponents, both on the road โฆ was the first time Fresno State defeated two top-25 opponents in a season since 2004 and the first time both wins came on the road in the 100 year history of the program โฆ 2020 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN/FRESNO STATE): played in all six games and had four starts for the Bulldogs โฆ had a breakthrough season for the โDogs, finishing as the teamโs third-leading receiver with 330 yards on 22 catches and one receiving touchdown โฆ also added two carries for eight yards and a score โฆ had the longest reception on the team this season with a 71-yard touchdown reception at Utah State (11/14) โฆ averaged 15 yards per catch and 55 yards per game on the year โฆ had a career-best seven receptions for 96 yards in the finale against New Mexico (12/12) โฆ was also a kick returner for the โDogs โฆ had 12 returns for 225 yards โฆ had a career-long 27-yard return against the Lobos โฆ finished 10th in the Mountain West with a 18.8 yard kickoff return average โฆ third on the team 563 all-purpose yards this season โฆ was the Mountain West Freshman of the Week (fan vote) after his performance at Utah State โฆ named to the Fall Academic All-Mountain West team 2019 SEASON (FRESHMAN/FRESNO STATE): redshirt season โฆ appeared in only one game, which came in a start versus Nevada (11/23) โฆ notched one reception for -10 yards.
HIGH SCHOOLย
Attended San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, Calif. โฆ was the teamโs second-leading receiver with 58 receptions, 1,127 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior โฆ helped SJM reach the 2018 Division 2-A championship game โฆ posted four 100-yard games during his senior season, including a season-best 173 and two touchdowns against Tulare Union in the Division 2-A NorCal regional final โฆ as a junior, had 49 receptions for 859 yards and nine touchdowns; also recorded eight interceptions defensively โฆ rated as a three-star recruit according to 247Sports โฆ second team All-State selection โฆ volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club.
PERSONAL
Born in Fresno, Calif. ... son of Chris and Deโandra Kelly ... has one older brother, Chris ... favorite athlete is Jerry Rice ... biggest athletic thrill is scoring late game touchdowns ... earned bachelor's degree in humanities at Washington State ... enrolled in post-baccalaureate courses at Texas Tech.
