Nov. 4, 2006
Senior defensive back Dominik Kelly is in his second season with the Golden Knights after transferring from Hinds Community College. Kelly is considered the fastest defender on the UCF roster. After a recent UCF practice, Kelly spoke with the UCF Athletics Communications staff about his speed, growing up in a small town and his work towards his bachelor's degree.
You are known as one of the fastest players on the team. How do you feel your speed helps you on the field?
DK: It helps me a lot. My speed has brought me to this point, and it has played a big part in my football career, especially in high school on up. My speed is natural because I grew up working with my dad in his construction company over the summer and the majority of the time I was using my legs a lot, so in a sense my speed is natural.
Currently, most of your time on the field comes on special teams. Do you see that aspect of the game as an avenue where you can use your speed to really contribute to the team?
DK: I played a majority of my time on special teams last year. This year have I have had more time actually on the field rather than only playing on special teams. Special teams are important. It is one of the first things we work on in practice. We start off with punt and punt return.
You grew up in Quitman, Miss., a small town close to the Alabama border. Have you adjusted to living in a bigger city like Orlando?
DK: Quitman is very rural, a small town with two stop lights. It took me some time to adjust to Orlando. I am a product of my environment. One of the biggest things I had to adjust to was the fact that everything you could want is right around the corner. Where I am from, if you wanted something, you usually had to go a distance to get it.
In your two years with the Golden Knights, what is your most memorable moment?
DK: I have had a lot of ups and downs since being at UCF, but I would say that one of the biggest moments since I have been here would have to be the game last your against Southern Mississippi in Mississippi. It was the last time I really was able to play on defense and it was a sort of homecoming for me. I felt proud that all my family and friends were there and able to see my doing something with myself .They knew where I had come from and they were proud of me. It made me feel good inside. I had at least 40 to 50 people there. It was also great for my teammates to see where I was from. They have been the ones who have been supporting me since they knew I was here (at UCF) by myself. When we have home games, I always give my tickets to my teammates for their family and friends. When it came time for us to go to Southern Miss, many of my teammates were more than willing to give me their tickets so that all of my family and friends could be there.
How thankful are you that you have had the opportunity to attend UCF and continue your education?
DK: I really didn't feel that I was going to have the opportunity to get my education. It feels like divine intervention that I made it here. I am thankful for that. I am extremely proud that I am going to be getting my degree. It also makes me feel good that my parents are proud of me. I am doing something that most people where I am from don't get a chance to do. Many don't get the opportunity.