Chad Kelly Says He Is Best Quarterback in Nation at SEC Media Days

Few deny Chad Kelly is the best returning quarterback in the SEC. But the Ole Miss signal-caller and Heisman Trophy hopeful made it clear Thursday he's not satisfied with just being the best in his conference.

"I'm the best quarterback in the nation," Kelly said at SEC media days, per Greg Ostendorf of ESPN.com.   

"You have to feel that way," Kelly continued. "In order to have confidence in yourself and team, you have to think you're the best. That's what I want our whole team—from offensive linemen to running backs—we have to think we're the best players and the best team out there. I want to be remembered as the greatest quarterback that ever played."

A redshirt senior, Kelly threw for 4,042 yards and 32 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 2015. He became the first Ole Miss player to win the Sugar Bowl MVP since Archie Manning in 1970 and was named second-team All-SEC. Mississippi State's Dak Prescott bested him for first-team honors.

Expectations have only grown heading into 2016, with ESPN The Magazine and Lindy's naming Kelly the preseason SEC Offensive Player of the Year (h/t Ole Miss Sports).

What makes Kelly a potential NFL quarterback is his ability to affect the game through the air and on the ground. He added 500 yards and 10 scores as a runner to his prodigious passing numbers last season. CBS Sports ranks him the best NFL quarterback prospect among seniors; Bleacher Report's Matt Miller had him seventh at the position overall in May.

Clemson's Deshaun Watson, the Miami Hurricanes' Brad Kaaya and Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph are just a few of the underclassmen Kelly will have to unseat on draft boards.

Kelly also has a long way to go if he wants to be the best quarterback in his own family. Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly is Chad's uncle.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.