Former teammates D.J. Jones and Chad Kelly become latest EMCC products picked in NFL Draft

SCOOBA – East Mississippi Community College's pipeline to the National Football League continues to grow as a result of the recent NFL Draft.  Along with former Ole Miss and EMCC teammates D.J. Jones and Chad Kelly being selected this past week, EMCC alums Avery Gennesy and Corey Smith have signed undrafted free agent deals this week.

With Jones being selected in the sixth round (198^th pick overall) by the San Francisco 49ers and Kelly going as the final pick of the draft (253^rd overall in 7^th round) to the Denver Broncos, this year marked the second time in school history that two former East Mississippi players were chosen in the same NFL Draft.  In 1999, running back James "J.J." Johnson, out of Mississippi State, went in the second round (39^th overall) to the Miami Dolphins and tight end Bobby Collins, from North Alabama, was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round (122^nd overall).

Jones and Kelly became the fourth and fifth players in the past five years under the guidance of 10^th-year EMCC head football coach Buddy Stephens to be selected in the annual NFL Draft.  They join previous Lion defensive line standouts and current NFL players Jarran Reed (2016, Seattle Seahawks, 2^nd Round), Za'Darius Smith (2015, Baltimore Ravens, 4^th Round) and Quinton Dial (2013, San Francisco 49ers, 5^th Round).

A defensive tackle by way of Greenville, South Carolina, Jones was credited with 70 total stops and 8.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including six sacks, during his two seasons at Ole Miss.  He started all 12 games at nose tackle for the Rebels last season.  Jones previously helped the EMCC Lions to consecutive undefeated seasons and back-to-back NJCAA National Championships in 2013 and 2014.

Kelly, a nephew of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, was a 22-game starter at quarterback for Ole Miss in setting school records for most consecutive games with a passing touchdown (22) and with 12 career 300-yard passing games.  For his Ole Miss career, the Buffalo, New York native completed 64 percent of his passes and threw for 6,800 total yards and 50 touchdowns.  Following his transfer from Clemson, Kelly earned NJCAA All-America first-team honors after passing for 3,906 yards and 47 touchdowns in leading the 2014 EMCC Lions to their second straight national football title.          

Along with the program's two newest draftees, East Mississippi also had two former players sign deals this week as undrafted free agents.  Texas A&M offensive lineman Avery Gennesy inked with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Ohio State wide receiver Corey Smith signed on with the Cincinnati Bengals.  In addition, former EMCC defensive tackle Darious Cummings has been signed as a tryout player by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The University of Florida product was previously signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers in 2015.

Gennesy was a four-year starter at left tackle in the collegiate ranks and earned All-SEC first-team laurels for the Aggies as a senior.  The Southaven native anchored EMCC's offensive line during the 2012 and 2013 seasons and was a key member of the Lions' national championship team as a sophomore.

A native of Akron, Ohio, Smith had 31 receptions for 351 yards during his Ohio State career.  His best season with the Buckeyes came during their 2014 national championship season when he caught 20 passes for 255 yards.  After transferring from Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College, Smith had a team-high 51 receptions for 733 yards and nine touchdowns as an EMCC sophomore in 2012.    

During Stephens' near-decade of gridiron coaching success with three national championships and five state titles at East Mississippi Community College, the Lions have now produced as many as 20 players who are either currently on NFL rosters, have signed free agent deals, been invited to rookie minicamps/tryouts, or played professionally in Canada or overseas since 2009.  Additionally, two-time Super Bowl champion and seven-year NFL veteran running back LeGarrette Blount was an All-American at East Mississippi (2006-07) prior to transferring to the University of Oregon and then beginning his pro career in 2010.