Honors & Awards
- CoSIDA Academic All-American (1979)
- Third-Team All-American (Football News, 1979)
- Nebraska Football Hall of Fame (2009)
- All-Big Eight Conference (1979)
- Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (Omaha World-Herald, 1978)
- Academic All-Big Eight (1978, 1979)
- Three Letters (1977, 1978, 1979)
- Senior Bowl (1979)
Career
Kelly Saalfeld is part of the storied Nebraska walk-on tradition. The Columbus, Neb., native captured CoSIDA Academic All-America honors as a senior center for the Huskers in 1979. Saalfeld also claimed All-Big Eight accolades both on and off the field as a senior, before being chosen by the Green Bay Packers in the ninth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. Saalfeld spent the 1980 season with the Packers and New York Giants.
The 6-4, 249-pounder earned third-team All-America honors from the Football News as a senior. As an anchor on the offensive line, Saalfeld helped the Huskers lead the nation in total offense in 1979, amasssing 501.4 yards per game.
In 2009, Saalfeld was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Senior (1979)
Started for the second straight season as Nebraska's starting center. After his senior season, Kelly was invited to be in the 1979 Senior Bowl.
Junior (1978)
Kelly entered the 1978 season os the Huskers #1 center. In his Junior season at Nebraska Kelly proved that he was just as tough off the feild as he was on the feild by earning academic All-Big Eight honors. He was a honorable-mention All-Big Eight honors from the Omaha World-Herald in 1978. Saalfeld play 397 minutes during his junior year, which is the fourth most for the offense.
Sophomore (1977)
Saalfeld played a total of 76 minutes his sophomore year. He played behind All-America center Tom Davis. Saalfeld started his first game as a Husker in 1977 against Kansas after Davis went down with an injury.
Redshirt Freshman (1976)
Redshirted in his second season in Lincoln.
Freshman (1975)
Walked on to Nebraska as a freshman from Columbus, Neb. He prepped at class B Columbus Lakeview High School under Coach Brunckner. Saalfeld played on the unbeaten Husker freshman team in 1975.
Personal
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Saalfeld, Kelly was born in January of 1957.