Leodis McKelvin

Leodis Anquan McKelvin (born September 4, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL).

In his senior year, he recorded 51 tackles, recovered three fumbles, intercepted six passes and broke up six passes, while helping Ware to a 9–2 record, a regional title and a second-round AAAA playoff appearance in 2003.

He was named defensive player of the year in the area as well as to the Georgia Times Union Super 11 team.

Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, McKelvin was not ranked among the nation's best cornerback prospects.

He received only few scholarship offers and picked Troy over Louisville on January 30, 2004.

McKelvin enrolled in Troy University, where he played for the Troy Trojans football team from 2004 to 2007.

As a true freshman, McKelvin saw action in all 12 games as a return man and reserve in the secondary, averaging 11.7 yards per punt return and 21.9 yards per kickoff return for the season.

In his sophomore year, he earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors as a return man by averaging 25.8 yards per kickoff return and 12.6 yards on punt returns.

At cornerback, McKelvin was credited with 30 tackles, including 26 solo stops, one sack, a fumble recovery and five pass breakups.

His junior year was his first season as a regular cover corner, as he recorded 66 tackles on the year, including 56 solo stops, while starting all 13 games.

McKelvin was credited with one tackle for loss during the season, had two forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries and seven pass breakups.

As a senior, he returned three punts for touchdowns.

He was named All-Sun Belt in both his junior and senior year as well.

Prior to the draft, McKelvin was compared to Johnathan Joseph.

He played college football for the Troy Trojans, earning first-team All-American honors in 2007.

He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft with the 11th overall pick.

McKelvin attended Ware County High School in Waycross, Georgia, where he played cornerback for the Ware County Gators.

As a junior, he recorded 60 tackles and six interceptions, while also returning eight receptions for over 300 yards.

McKelvin was drafted by the Buffalo Bills 11th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, the first cornerback selected.

On July 26, 2008, McKelvin signed a five-year, $19.4 million contract with the Bills with up to $12.6 million in bonuses.

McKelvin made an immediate impact with his kick returning skills, returning a kickoff 95-yards for a touchdown in a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Although he showed promise during the pre-season, he began his rookie season as the fifth cornerback on the depth chart.

He would see his first action on September 28, 2008, during a game against the St. Louis Rams and finished his regular season debut with two tackles.

He earned his first career start on November 9 during a 20–10 loss to the New England Patriots.

On November 17, 2008, on Monday Night Football, he returned a kickoff 98-yards for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns.

The following week on Sunday on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, McKelvin intercepted Tyler Thigpen twice, returning one for a 64-yard touchdown.

The Bills went on to win the game 54–31.

After his two interception game and an injury to cornerback Jabari Greer, McKelvin remained a starting cornerback for the last six games and finished his first season with 32 total tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, and a single touchdown.

He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.

After Jabari Greer left via free agency during the 2009 offseason, McKelvin was named the starting cornerback opposite Terrence McGee to begin the season.

On September 14, 2009, during the Bills' season opener on Monday Night Football, McKelvin caught a kickoff in his own endzone with Buffalo up 24–19 over the New England Patriots and 2:06 left in the game.

He chose to return it instead of downing it and fumbled it around the 30-yard line, making it his second fumble of the game.

New England drove from the 31-yard line for the winning touchdown.

As a result, two teenage males vandalized the Hamburg, New York, home of McKelvin spray-painting obscenities as well as the phrase "take a knee" and the winning score of 25–24 in favor of New England on his front lawn.

McKelvin chose not to press charges against the two teenage males.

On September 27, 2009, McKelvin suffered a broken fibula during a 27–7 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

He was placed on injured-reserve four days later, effectively ending his season.

In three starts, he earned 11 tackles and a pass deflection.

McKelvin began the season as the third cornerback on the depth chart after Drayton Florence performed well after replacing him during his injury the previous season.

He made his return on September 12, 2010, in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins and finished the 15–10 loss with three tackles and two pass deflections.