Adam Archuleta: ASU’s Taylor Kelly not elite, but a ‘baller’

ASU senior quarterback Taylor Kelly enters 2014 as one of the more accomplished quarterbacks in the Pac-12, if not the country.

Heading into third season as a starter, Kelly has thrown for 6,705 yards and 57 touchdowns, while completing 64.6 percent of his passes.

He was named to the Davey O’Brien award watch list, given to the best quarterback in college football.

Former ASU safety Adam Archuleta, who now works as an NFL color analyst for CBS, told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM he is a big Kelly fan.

“I feel good about Taylor Kelly,” Archuleta said. “He’s not flashy. He’s not like a Jameis Winston type or doesn’t get that kind of national love, but the guy’s a baller.”

While Kelly may be overlooked on the grand stage, he did lead the Sun Devils to the Pac-12 championship game in 2013 and had the eighth-best passer rating in the country in 2012.

Kelly has also proved he can make plays with his feet, rushing for 608 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Archuleta said Kelly is a dependable and clutch player.

“Is he one of the elites? No. But I think he’s up there as far as guys that can lead any football team in the country. I’ve been a really big fan of his work. I love what he’s been able to do here in his career at ASU. I expect him to take an even bigger step (in 2014). But I just love his style, the way he handles himself. You’ll win a lot of football games with Taylor Kelly as your quarterback.”

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