The West Virginia Mountaineers have secured another addition through the transfer portal, landing a commitment from Missouri defensive lineman Eddie Kelly.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 278 pounds, Kelly committed to WVU after an official campus visit that began on April 18. The Mountaineers extended him an offer just two days earlier, on April 16.
A native of Florida, Kelly chose West Virginia over other offers, including those from Virginia Tech and Kansas.
This marks Kelly’s fourth college stop in as many years. He began his career at South Florida, where he played in 11 games and made 19 tackles as a true freshman. He then transferred to Georgia Tech and logged 36 tackles there before moving on to Missouri. At Mizzou last season, he played in all 13 games, recording 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack.
With just one year of eligibility remaining, Kelly brings valuable experience to WVU’s defensive unit.
According to WVSports.com, Kelly’s addition provides both an immediate and long-term boost for the Mountaineers. Over his three college seasons, he has totaled 841 snaps, with his best year statistically coming most recently. He earned a 76.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, including strong marks in run defense (76.6), tackling (76.7), and coverage (81.7). His pass rush grade came in at 66.6. He also showed versatility last season by playing both as an outside linebacker and along the defensive line.
At West Virginia, he’s expected to fill a hybrid edge role disrupting quarterbacks from multiple spots. Throughout his career, Kelly has generated 23 quarterback hurries and recorded just six missed tackles, along with four sacks.
Kelly adds depth and leadership to a defensive line group that includes a dozen scholarship players. His ability to also play as a “bandit” defender due to his linebacker experience makes him a flexible asset for the Mountaineers.
Despite Kelly’s arrival, West Virginia is still expected to pursue additional defensive linemen to address depth issues that arose after spring football wrapped up.
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