4-star LB Kaveion Keys commits to North Carolina

Richmond (Va.) Varina four-star linebacker Kaveion Keys has committed to North Carolina. The 6-foot-2, 190 pound prospect chose the Tar Heels over programs including Florida, Penn State and Texas A&M.

Keys is the No. 314 overall prospect and No. 28 linebacker in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 5 player in Virginia. 

On3 rates him higher than other recruiting services, according to the Industry Comparison. Per the 2023 On300, Keys is the No. 180 overall prospect, No. 15 linebacker and No. 3 player in Virginia.

North Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class now contains 18 commitments and is comprised of six four-stars, 11 three-stars and one unranked prospect. Prior to Keys’ commitment, the Tar Heels’ group ranked No. 24 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 5 in the ACC.

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What Keys’ commitment means for North Carolina’s 2023 class

Keys is currently the third linebacker committed to North Carolina. The others are alongside Mableton (Ga.) Whitefield Academy three-star Caleb LaVallee and Manassas (Va.) Unity Reed’s Amare Campbell. 

The Tar Heels have landed three commitments over the last week in Keys, Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch three-star wide receiver Paul Billups and Manassas (Va.) Unity Reed’s Amare Campbell. Additionally, North Carolina now has six commitments from players from Virginia, including Keys, Billups, Campbell, Richmond (Va.) four-star defensive lineman Joel Starlings, Stafford (Va.) Colonial Forge three-star offensive tackle Nolan McConnell and Ashburn (Va.) Loudoun Valley three-star tight end Julien Randolph.

Durham (N.C.) Southern four-star EDGE Jaybron Harvey, the No. 174 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus, is the top player in the Tar Heels’ class. North Carolina has two other top-250 prospects in Hickory (N.C.) four-star EDGE Rico Walker and Harrisburg (N.C.) Hickory Ridge four-star Christian Hamilton.

Keys has an On3 NIL Valuation of $11.7K. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Kaveion Keys On3 Scouting Summary

The following is the On3 Scouting Summary for Kaveion Keys:

“Twitchy, athletic linebacker with plus play speed. Employed as an off-ball linebacker, pass rusher and wide receiver for his high school, who he helped to its first state title in 2021. Has outstanding closing speed. A dynamic finisher behind the line of scrimmage, in large part due to his short area burst. Makes impressive plays in pursuit. Highly disruptive as a pass rusher and blitzer, finishing with 15 sacks as a junior. 

“Shows off his speed and coordination at receiver, with the ability to make big plays – both vertically and after the catch. Size is unverified. Will need to continue progressing in terms of developing read and react skills as an off-ball linebacker. Younger for the class, not turning 17 years-old until August of his senior year.”