Former OU football standout Caleb Kelly stars in pro wrestling docuseries 'WWE: Next Gen'

Former OU linebacker Caleb Kelly starred in the new WWE docuseries "WWE: Next Gen."

The eight-episode series, which debuted Monday on the Roku Channel, gives an all-access look at the tryout process for those hoping to receive a contract from the WWE. It's produced by WWE legend John Cena.

Kelly arrived at OU in 2016 as a five-star recruit, but his promising career got derailed by injuries. He tore his ACL three consecutive years and finished with 179 total tackles (12 for loss) in six seasons.

Kelly, 24, is a director of OU's SOUL (Serving Our Uncommon Legacy) Mission program, which hires former football players to mentor current student-athletes in their lives off the field. He's also a project manager at Redwood Roofing Company.

But Kelly attended the WWE tryouts in Los Angeles with hopes of securing a contract.

More: Why Caleb Kelly's role with OU football's SOUL Mission is 'more like my cup of tea' than coaching

"This WWE opportunity could be my last chance to be a professional athlete," Kelly said in the series. "My mentality was always to go to the top. Football is done, but the WWE is here, and I want to be a WWE superstar."

Kelly, who went by the name Caleb "Killer" Kelly in the series, made it past the tryouts in Los Angeles. He then received a contract offer, which required him to move to Orlando, Florida, and train at the WWE Performance Center.

Kelly ultimately declined the offer, citing his family as the primary reason. The former Sooner is engaged, and his fiancé has a child.

"I decided not to take the contract because the opportunity is too much change," Kelly said. "This WWE opportunity could very well be my last chance to be a professional athlete, to be a WWE superstar. But I'm not just Caleb Kelly, the athlete. I'm Caleb Kelly, the dad. I'm Caleb Kelly, the fiancé.

"That's what I've got to be. That's who I am, and that matters more than just Caleb Kelly being a WWE superstar right now."

More: 'I just really feel OK with it': Caleb Kelly walks away from OU football with his head held high

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former OU football LB Caleb Kelly stars in docuseries 'WWE: Next Gen'