Nine quarterbacks were selected ahead of former Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly during the 2017 NFL Draft last weekend.

In fact, a total of 252 players heard their names called before the ex-Rebel was chosen by the Denver Broncos with the 253rd and final pick in this year’s draft.

That means Kelly now has the “Mr. Irrelevant” label given to the last pick in each year’s draft, signifying the long odds such a player faces of ever making an impact in the NFL.

However, Kelly isn’t put off by his new nickname. He told Scout.com that he’s just happy to have a chance to show an NFL team what he can do:

“It feels great,” Kelly said. “To finally have a chance to be in the NFL is a dream come true. Now it’s just time to go out and perform and show what I can do. (The Broncos) are going to get a guy who’s going to put in countless hours and is going to try to perform his craft at the best of his ability and just work. That’s the only way you can keep on getting better, and I’m just excited for this opportunity.”

Kelly was shown by ESPN cameras slumped on his couch as Day 3 of the draft wore on, seemingly getting more and more distraught with every name that appeared on his screen that wasn’t his.

He said he’d use that feeling as motivation to make something of his NFL career now that the Broncos have given him a chance to compete:

“I had a sick feeling in my stomach the whole day when I wasn’t getting picked,” he said. “I’ll remember that feeling for the rest of my life. I’m going to go out there and perform to the best of my ability. I’ve got a great team around me that’s going to make me look really good. I know those coaches are excited to get their hands on me, and I’m going to learn as much as I can from the coaches (and) the quarterbacks that are there. I’m going to try to go out and do the best that I can do and hopefully it can pay off. Every day I’ll remember that feeling. I’m going to keep on working, and that’s going to fuel my fire.”

Kelly threw for 4,800 yards and 50 touchdowns in his two years with Ole Miss, so he has the ability to put up big numbers against tough competition (just ask Alabama).

Whether or not that talent will transfer to the pro ranks remains to be seen, but it seems like Kelly will do everything in his power to make sure he stays in the league for a long time.