Senio Kelemete

Senio Kelemete (born May 10, 1990) is an American football offensive guard for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He attended the University of Washington from 2008 to 2011.

High school career

A native of Seattle, Washington, Kelemete attended Evergreen High School, where he was a four-year starter on the varsity. As a junior in 2006, he earned first-team all-league as both and offensive and defensive lineman as he helped the team to an 8–2 record. In 2007, Evergreen went 9–2 and went the state playoffs for the first time since 2001 while Kelemete was honored as the Seamount League's Lineman of the Year on both offense and defense.

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Kelemete was ranked as the No. 45 offensive tackle prospect in his class.^[1] He chose Washington over offers from California, and Oregon State. The Huskies recruit Kelemete as a defensive lineman.

College career

In his true freshman season, Kelemete played in eight of the Huskies' 12 games as a defensive tackle, including four starts: vs. BYU, Oklahoma, Stanford, and Arizona. In the off-season, he was moved over to offensive line, and started 11 of the Huskies' 12 games at right guard (all but UCLA) in 2009. He earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors and was named the John P. Angel Lineman of the Year at the Huskies' postseason awards banquet.

For his junior year, Kelemete was moved from guard to left tackle and named team captain. He started all 13 games, one of only two UW o-linemen to do so. Still a team captain in 2011, Kelemete started all 13 games at left tackle again, and was named second-team All-Pac-12. He was a member of the North team at the 2012 Senior Bowl.

Professional career

Projected as a fourth round selection by Sports Illustrated, he was ranked as the No. 9 offensive guard prospect.^[2] Kelemete was praised for his "great use of body positioning and blocking angles," but criticized for his lack of "top footwork in pass protection."^[3]

Arizona Cardinals

Kelemete was selected in the fifth round, 151st overall, by the Arizona Cardinals. He was one of three offensive lineman selected by the Cardinals, along with Bobby Massie (fourth round) and Nate Potter (seventh round). Kelemete was the highest UW offensive lineman selected since Joe Toledo in 2006.

In his first NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers, Kelemete became the first offensive lineman in NFL history to make a reception in his debut when he caught a deflected Brian Hoyer pass intended for Andre Roberts for 10 yards.^[5][6]

New Orleans Saints

He was signed to the New Orleans Saints' practice squad on September 2, 2013.^[7] He was released on September 24, 2013, but was re-signed to their practice squad on September 26, 2013. On March 4, 2016, the Saints re-signed Kelemete to a two-year deal.

References

External links

• Arizona Cardinals bio
• Washington Huskies bio