CINCINNATI — Robert Kelly is a senior at Taft Information Technology High School in Cincinnati. The wide receiver and running back said that football was his saving grace. 

“When I was young, I used to get bullied. I thought that playing football would help me overcome that, so I started playing. I stopped getting bullied once I started playing,” Kelly said.  

He transferred to Taft for his junior year. In time, he’d find a passion for all things media, and he credits that to his teacher or "bonus mom" Shanah LeGree. 

The duo was one of several teachers and football players in a TikTok video went viral back in October. The clip shows Kelly and other senior players gifting their jerseys to teachers who made a difference in their lives ahead of the school’s senior night game. The video now has over 11 million views.

“That's definitely the feeling that you get when a student honors you. You feel like, oh my gosh, you actually see me,“ LeGree said.  

Tyler Williams is the head coach of the Taft Senators. He said that despite injuries and other adversity they faced during the season, they’re looking strong in the playoffs with a record of 9-2. He added that they treat each and every game like there’s a championship up for grabs. 

“We try to match that standard each and every week. How can we play better? How can we be on that stage? We got to do the little things right each and every day,” he said. 

As he's near the end of his high school football career, Kelly wants to go out with a bang.

“Last time I caught a touchdown I ran in the stands with the crowd. That's the stuff I love to do. The crowd is really tight here. They’re real lively. That’s just the energy I love.” 

The Taft Senators will play in their second game of the playoffs Friday night against Brookville. A win puts them in the regional semi-finals.