For the Rams newest running back, John Kelly, football is much more than just a game, it's a way of life.
"Football has done a lot for me and my family, [it's] definitely one thing that has kept me driven and kept me passionate every day," Kelly told therams.com. "I always wake up with a smile because I can still play this game."
Not only did playing football keep Kelly out of trouble while he was growing up in Detroit, but it also led him to the University of Tennessee — where he spent two years behind 2017 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Alvin
Check out behind-the-scenes photos of rookies arriving at the Rams' facility in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Kamara, before having a breakout season of his own as a junior. Kelly recorded 1,077 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 226 touches last season.
And it was in Knoxville where Kelly says he began to foster a "competitive edge," something he believes will come aid him at the next level.
"I was able to play with some good running backs there and to come here and play with one of the best running backs in the league, I feel like I'm going to bring that edge to be able to compete," he said.
But that edge is not the only thing Kelly brings to the table.
While at Tennessee, the running back proved himself as someone who takes his drive and translates it into high production. A case in point is how Kelly became one of just four players in the country to lead his team in rushing yards (778) and receptions (299).
"I'm passionate, competitive and versatile," Kelly said when asked to describe himself. "I feel like I can play any position [and] I practice how I play.
With an attitude like that it's easy to see why the rookie has already begun to make a positive impression. And it's also why Kelly seems to fit so well into the Rams organization and culture.
By Day 3, he was already following the "one day at a time" outlook that head coach Sean McVay so often preaches.
"To continue to get better everyday," he said of his goals for Year 1. "That's really the only thing. Those are really my only expectations — to constantly get better, constantly learn something new, and just constantly make every day my best day. That's all I can think about."
