Dane Key Talks Kentucky After Dropping Top 10

Dane Key is an elite high school football player. There’s no question about that statement. However, there’s much more to the Frederick Douglass product than just football. Family and values are as valuable to the receiver as touchdowns and receptions. I recently interviewed the 4-star prospect to talk about his final list of 10 schools that he’s considering and the role that family will play in regards to making a college choice.

Top 10 Blessed to have the opportunity to compete at the next level thanks to all the Universities who recruited me🖤 @ravens219 @nic0lekey @Dev2Key pic.twitter.com/GwX8xTWJN2

— Dane Key (@DaneKey12) March 28, 2021

I found Dane to be mature beyond his years. The Key family is football royalty in the commonwealth. His father Donte is a former UK linebacker that once intercepted a pass against Louisville to seal the win for the Cats in the Governor’s Cup. He has been involved in both youth football and high school coaching in Lexington for many years. Dane’s older brother Devon enjoyed one of, if not the most prolific career for a defensive player in the history of Western Kentucky University Football. The Bryan Station grad started 49 games as a Topper (43 consecutive), earned All-Conference honors as a senior, and finished his stay in Bowling Green as the program’s all-time FBS leader with 350 career tackles. Most reading this article will want to learn about Dane Key the football player. But I found Dane’s passion to be about his family. This especially applies to his beloved mom, Nicole. Matter of fact, Dane narrowed his college choices to ten and released the list on Sunday which is Nicole’s birthday. Family matters to him.

The following is a series of questions and answers with Dane Key:

Question-Why release your Top 10 today?

Dane Key-I just thought today was the best day to do it, my mom’s birthday. It’s time to start narrowing the schools down to make it easier on me and my family when the time for the decision comes. I’m extremely blessed and humbled to have all these schools recruiting me. My Top 10 are really involved in my recruitment and show a lot of love. They all want me to come play for their program.

Q-What is your Top 10 in no particular order?

Key-South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, Oregon, Wisconsin, Mississippi State, Purdue, Kentucky, Virginia, and Michigan State. All ten are equal and have the same chance as of today.

Q-What makes UK appealing?

Key-UK is my hometown. It would be a really cool experience to play where my dad played. It would also be really cool to play with some really good friends at the next level (Former Douglass teammates turned Wildcats Jager Burton and Dekel Crowdus).

Q-Will you declare a Top 5 or will your next announcement be your final choice?

Key-I will go from 10 to making my final decision. I haven’t really thought about how I’m going to announce my final decision. I may make a video and then release that when the time comes which will be during my senior season or just after.

Q-What are you looking for in the program that you decide to call home for the next three to four years?
Key-Definitely where I feel the most welcome. Also, whichever school is going to help me develop both on and off the football field.

Key-Definitely where I feel the most welcome. Also, whichever school is going to help me develop both on and off the football field.

Q-Former high school teammates Jager Burton and Dekel Crowdus signed with Kentucky in the Class of 2021. What level of impact does their decision have on your college choice?

Key-It doesn’t have a big effect but they’re always in my ear about going to Kentucky and to go ahead and make that decision. I always have them in my ear.

Q-What did you learn by observing former Douglass teammates throughout their recruiting experience?

Key-Made me want to go out and work even harder. Those guys worked super hard. Just seeing them and how they prepared every day, how they come to practice every day to work inspired me to work harder on a daily basis.

Q-Tell me about being recruited by the Big Dog, Vince Marrow.

Key-I like him. He always tells me the truth. He loves my family. He’s a great dude. We really enjoy Coach Marrow and how good he’s recruiting me.

Dane Key is a generational talent at the receiver position. Recruiting sites list him at 6’2, 170-pounds. They may want to recalibrate their measurements. He’s now 6’3, 195. Key has worked exceptionally hard in the offseason to gain strength and to add good weight while maintaining his top-end speed. I can foresee Key being a plug-and-play, day-one starter at whichever program is fortunate to earn his signature come December.

Dane Key is a unique talent that possesses all the physical traits to become a special player at the collegiate level. This opinion isn’t new or exclusive. However, Key is mature beyond his years and has an excessively high football IQ. His approach to the game is derivative of having a dad and brother that excelled at the college level. Observing his brother Devon prepare for the NFL Draft is yet another motivational and educational experience that inspires the youngest Key to strive for daily improvement. Driven by family influences, Key comprehends the value and emphasis placed on hard work.

Dane Key is all about family. Donte, Nicole, Devon, and Dane are incredibly close and heartwarmingly loyal. Talking with the Frederick Douglass star was similar to interviewing a fifth-year college senior. The program that he feels the most comfortable with and provides the best family environment could earn his signature. Rest assured, it will be a family decision. I found Dane Key to be refreshingly humble and sincere. He’s also passionate about the Frederick Douglass football program and his current teammates. A state championship remains to be a goal. Schools vying for his services will likely turn up the heat as the summer months lead into the 2021 high school football season.

Where will he play his college football? We’ll see. The rising senior is much more than a football player. He’s a loving son and uncle as well as a proud brother from a football-rich family. We now know his final 10 choices. Get your popcorn ready, this one could go down to the wire.