Jan. 5, 2016
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State junior defensive end Kyle Kelley (Irvine, Calif.) has been named to the Associated Press 2015 All-Bowl Team.
Making just his second career start, Kelley recorded career highs of nine tackles (six solo), 3.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss for 25 yards in the Aztecs' 42-7 win over Cincinnati in the Hawai‘i Bowl game on Dec. 24. The 3.5 sacks set a Hawai‘i Bowl record, and are tied for the third most in a game in program history and the most sacks by a SDSU player since 1991. Kelley's nine tackles also tied teammates Na'im McGee and Kameron Kelly for the most in the game.
On the season, Kelley finished with 24 tackles (15 solo), nine tackles for loss for 47 yards, 7.5 sacks for 44 yards, a team-high eight quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a blocked kick in 14 games.
Kelley was joined on the AP All-Bowl Team on the defensive line by Tennessee's Derek Barnett, UCLA's Kenny Clark and Stanford's Aziz Shittu. Kelley was one of only two from the Mountain West and just six from a Group of 5 Conference on the 26-member team.
San Diego State matched a school record with 11 victories (11-3), culminating with a 42-7 win over Cincinnati in the Hawai‘i Bowl on Dec. 24. The Aztecs won their second Mountain West title since 2012, first outright league championship since 1986 and 20th conference crown in program history.