By Jack Williams
Kelley Rhino, a star on Georgia Tech’s special teams, comes from a family that has been specializing in Yellow Jacket football for half a century. Take it from the Tech coaches, the family name is in good hands.
A son of former defensive back Randy Rhino, Tech’s only three-time All-America on teams in 1972-73-74, Kelley is the smallest guy on the current Jacket roster at 5-8 and 170 pounds. But that doesn’t count the size of his heart.
Kelley says his participation in the game at Georgia Tech fulfills a lifetime dream.
“It means a ton to me to play football here,” he says. “Ever since I was a kid, this has been my goal. I was so excited coming here. I watched a highlight film on my dad’s big plays at Tech, punt returns and such, and couldn’t wait to get started.”
By competing for the Jackets, Kelley follows in the footsteps of three family members. His dad, now an Atlanta chiropractor and a baseball tutor for city youngsters, was by far the most famous of the trio. But Kelley is proud, too, of the accomplishments of his grandfather Chappell, who lettered at Tech in 1950-51-52, and his uncle, Danny, a cornerback on Tech teams in 1974-75-76.
The Tech coaches say Kelley belongs with his family members on page one.
“Kelley is a good example of a great special teams player,” says Danny Crossman, the Tech assistant who coaches all the special teams. “He has a knack for avoiding tacklers and finding the ball carrier. You want athletes who have speed and can run and hit-and Kelley fills that bill.”
The Tech special teams have, indeed, been quite special this season. Heading into Saturday’s home game against Wake Forest (12 noon at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field), the Jackets rank third nationally in net punting (42.8) and sixth in kickoff return average (25.1). Tech is second in the ACC in kickoff coverage.
Tech also has two individuals who rank highly in national statistics. Dan Dyke is fifth in the country in punting average (45.0) and Kelly Campbell ranks 18th in kickoff returns (26.1).
“The special teams so far have met all our expectations,” Crossman says, “but they can do even better. They have played hard. If they continue to do that, I feel good things will happen.”
Although just a sophomore, Rhino definitely is a leader of the pack. He plays on two special teams-the kickoff coverage team and the punt return and block unit. “Kickoff coverage is my favorite,” he said. He had 10 tackles on kickoff coverage last season and is halfway there with five already this season. But statistics are not his thing.
“I have no goals involving numbers,” he said. “Numbers do not matter to me. I just want to make big plays when I have the opportunity.”
Rhino is surrounded by many other outstanding players on the special teams. Some of the best are Tony Hollings, Cory Collins, Kerry Watkins and Ather Brown.
When Chris Young blocked a punt at North Carolina, it was Hollings who recovered in the end zone to help Tech topple the Tar Heels, 42-28, in the team’s last start. Rhino says that play and one other, when the North Carolina punter fumbled a snap from center and was tackled in his tracks, were the turning points in the game.
“In one staff meeting, Coach (George) O’Leary talked to the squad about the importance of the special teams. ‘Why are the special teams called special?’ he asked one of our players. Finally, Coach explained that the special teams are called that for a simple reason-because they are so special.”
Rhino is proud of the accomplishments of the entire Tech team. “I think everyone was nervous at the start without Joe Hamilton at quarterback,” he said. “But George Godsey has really stepped up his game and has proved what he can do. Everyone has real confidence in him. The defense has played well, too. When everything is clicking, this can be a very dangerous team.”
Through a long football career, Rhino has proved to be a versatile player. In a league for 11 and 12-year-olds at Atlanta’s Chastain Park, he played quarterback on a team coached by his dad. Guess what the team was called? Yellow Jackets, of course.
That would be Kelley’s only experience at quarterback. He started his high school career at Marist in Atlanta, playing both offense (running back and fullback) and defense (cornerback). As a senior, he concentrated just on offense on a wishbone team, rushing for 875 yards and catching passes for 150 more.
He has been able to use his running ability in one game with Tech. Last year in a loss to Wake Forest, when Dez White was injured, Kelley filled in on kickoff returns. He currently is third man on the depth chart at one cornerback.
Rhino excels, too, in the classroom. Majoring in management, he finished last school year with a 3.2 grade point average.
Kelley is proud that his father, uncle and grandfather all are still avid fans of Georgia Tech football. “My father goes to every game, home and away,” he said. “My grandfather and uncle see the games as often as possible.”
You can bet those family members are proud too, of No. 41, the smallest guy on the team, the one who makes sure the Rhino legend is alive and well.
