Kicking off Fatherhood: MSU's Grady Kelly’s most important role yet, and a new motivation

The day before kickoff in Bloomington, Indiana, Grady Kelly wasn’t preparing for his next Big Ten battle, but instead he was in a hospital room, not for injury, but for something far bigger. At 9:02 that Saturday morning, Kelly and his wife welcomed their new baby boy, Shiloh, into the world. Instead of spending 60 minutes fighting on the field, Kelly stepped into an entirely different arena and a life-changing journey of becoming a father.  

“It’s been a huge adjustment,” Kelly said with a smile. “I’m sure, if you guys are parents, you remember, but it’s been a huge adjustment. But, I mean, man, it’s just been so special, and to get to do it with my best friend just makes it all the more special.”

For the 22-year-old Michigan State defensive lineman, he is getting adjusted to newborn life, learning new stuff every day, and figuring out fatherhood little by little. Through the lack of sleep and newborn trenches, Kelly explains that this is the most special thing he’s ever done in his life. 

Kelly is a key defensive player for the Spartans, and his absence was definitely felt in the 38-13 loss against the Indiana Hoosiers on Oct. 18, though the early delivery allowed Kelly to be back on the field, with a newfound dad strength, for the rivalry matchup against Michigan the following weekend on Oct. 25.

“Her due date was actually supposed to be the game against the school down the road (Michigan),” Kelly said. "But we went into the doctor, and she had high blood pressure and some other symptoms … so they said she probably has to be induced tonight, so they induced her right away, and then we were praying that it would come quick enough for me to get to go back down to Indiana, but he came pretty late that morning, 9:02 a.m. that morning.”

Even with arrangements made for him and hope that baby Shiloh would come quickly, Kelly’s presence was needed most in the delivery room, with his wife and family. However, the timing didn’t matter much for Kelly, as once he held his baby boy, that was the most important thing in his life and, as he describes it, his "gift from God." The baby's name carries a special meaning.

“Shiloh, it was like a dwelling place for people,” Kelly said. “Where there was a spiritual meeting place for the Lord, and it means a gift from God, and that's just kind of how me and my wife felt about him.”

Being married, let alone a father, was something Kelly could not have expected at 18 years old when he started his college career, but he wouldn’t change it one bit. 

“I definitely did not think I’d be married with a kid (this young),” Kelly said. “Just the position (I’m in), I just feel super blessed by everything that’s happened, and it’s all really been a gift.”

Now, as Kelly is back in the field, ready to grind out his last college football season, the support in the locker room has been incredibly special for him to adjust and get acclimated to life balancing football and fatherhood. 

“There’s just been an overwhelming amount of support from the team,” Kelly said. “Which has been really, really special.”