SALEM, Va. - Concordia-St. Paul senior offensive lineman Rich Kelly competed in the Dream Bowl on Monday, January 20 at the Salem Football Stadium. Kelly, a two-time All-NSIC selection, spent the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend competing for one last time in Concordia colors. 

The Dream Bowl is an invite only senior bowl game consisting of the best players across FCS, DII, and DIII. This is a very unique experience for players, and something that few players get the opportunity to do; it provided Kelly "a really cool experience to play with guys from FCS and DII and to go against guys that I'd never seen or heard of before." 

Players were divided into two teams, the Patriots and the Crusaders. Kelly was on the Patriots who lost 17-3. Kelly rotated snaps at left guard and was in on the lone scoring drive for the Patriots. 

Players were kept busy by bowl activities prior to playing the game. Players flew to Roanoke, Virginia on Thursday and were allocated with their teams. Friday consisted of a practice in front of scouts from the NFL, CFL, and XFL; this included a lot of combine-style testing. Saturday consisted of two practices and the banquet in the evening. Sunday the players were allowed to spend with family and loved ones who had traveled for the game.

Kelly did not lose a one-on-one competition in any of the practices. He performed well in front of many viewers at the game including a key block to spring a screen pass over 20 yards. He also had one pancake during the game. He commented that "the competition level was very good, I thought I was able to hold my own and performed pretty well."

Kelly will continue to train with Concordia strength & conditioning coach Eric Overland on campus. He was contacted by agents following the game and will look to sign with one shortly. Kelly will benefit from a rule allowing him to participate in two pro days, one each in Minnesota and his home state of Illinois. From that point, Rich says he is looking for any opportunity and stated "Once I get one chance, it's all on me from there."

He concluded, "It was cool to be able to go out there and show for your school."