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News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

Robert Kelley Hopes To Provide Redskins Multifaceted Weapon

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After a career at Tulane in which he was asked to do a little bit of everything from pass-catching back to even some fullback duties, Robert Kelley wants to catch on with the Redskins in a similar role.

With Alfred Morris now a member of the rival Dallas Cowboys after four seasons as the Washington Redskins' lead back, the team's running backs corps will see some change this season.

Check out photos of the entire 2016 Washington Redskins offseason active roster in action.

The changes include quite a bit of home-grown talent, which the Redskins currently have.

"Instead of bringing in other players from other organizations, we bring in our own guys," Redskins general manager McCloughan said on Monday. "We draft them, we mold them and teach them how to be a Redskin."

This gives guys like Robert Kelley a chance to make NFL dreams become reality.

Kelley, who played for Tulane University, went undrafted earlier this offseason and signed with the Redskins as a college free agent. Kelley stands at six-feet and tips the scales at 220 pounds.

The New Orleans native seems to be taking full advantage of his opportunity with Washington, noting he's ready to "take advantage of the opportunity the Redskins gave me."

The Green Wave product ran 318 times for 1,270 and six touchdowns in his career at Tulane.

While his numbers may not exactly pop out, it was his ability to adapt to various roles that made him an intriguing prospect for the Redskins.

"Every year my role changed," Kelley told Redskins.com. "The first year I returned kicks. The second year I caught the ball and my junior year I ran the ball a lot."

Kelley switched between running back and fullback throughout his college career, displaying both the ability to be a back capable of carrying the ball on his own and excelling in protection.

Kelley was also a teammate with current Redskins wide receiver Ryan Grant while in college.

From the moment his arrived at Redskins Park in Loudoun County, Va., Kelley's been soaking up all of the knowledge he can from Grant.

"He was telling me to just hang in there and if I need anything just holler at him for any type of support, learn the offense, or whatever I need," Kelley said. "We have been really good friends since Tulane."

Being a Tulane running back, many wonder if Kelley possesses qualities similar to the game of Matt Forte, another NFL running back that came from the Green Wave's program.

Although Forte is an established Pro Bowler, Kelley believes he can do everything like the New York Jets running back including being a passing game threat.

If he can find a way to catch on, Kelley will only add to a running backs corps that has the potential to be successful.

"Right now if we had to, yeah, I'd go in with that group," McCloughan said.

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