It's been a good second half of the season for Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin. With all three of his career starts coming in the month of November Buffalo's top draft pick came up with some big plays earning him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month award.
In the five November games, McKelvin compiled five tackles, three pass breakups, two interceptions including one that he returned 64 yards for a touchdown in a win at Kansas City.
Those two interceptions currently have him tied for the team lead in that category.
McKelvin also exploded onto the national stage as a premier kick returner taking one back for a 98-yard touchdown in the Monday Night game against Cleveland.
The rookie vaulted to the top of the league in return average after that game and has remained there the past three weeks with a 29.4-yard average.
Sitting behind starting cornerbacks Terrence McGee and Jabari Greer for most of the first half of the season, McKelvin had to bide his time before a Greer knee injury thrust him into the lineup.
"It's just me getting an opportunity to make a play," said McKelvin. "I was just behind two guys that were playing great from the beginning of the season. Jabari had interceptions and Terrence McGee made plays before he got hurt. I knew my time would come. Coach always tells us you're one play away. Just keep working hard at practice and things are going to come to you."
This is the first Rookie of the Month award for a Buffalo Bills player since 2006 when Donte Whitner won the award for the month of September. McKelvin is the fourth ever Rookie of the Month award recipient in team history.
