Devin Leary, Dane Key combo could lead to big moments for Kentucky's passing offense

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Dane Key, Kentucky Wildcats receiver — (Michael Hickey / Getty Images)

Expectations are high for NC State transfer quarterback Devin Leary. Expectations are high for sophomore wide receiver Dane Key. Expectations are high for Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen.

These three are joining forces this year to hopefully create an offensive resurgence in Lexington.

However, questions hover around the offense. Can Leary stay healthy and produce in the SEC? Can Key avoid a sophomore slump? Can Coen replicate what we saw in 2021? Only time will tell, but some key data indicators are on their side.

Clark Brooks of SEC Stat Cat joined the 11 Personnel podcast this week to discuss some advanced data for Kentucky football entering the 2023 season. Quickly the conversation shifted to the passing game. Leary has an established skill set that should travel to Kroger Field.

Accuracy. And that matters when your job is throwing the football. I just did the impact study which looked at basically the top 40 returning passers against their hardest opponents. For Leary, of course, this past season wasn’t too great but consistently strong contested tight window accuracy. Consistently strong mid-range accuracy.

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Why could this make a big difference in 2023? Because it matches up with Key’s play strengths.

“When you takeout uncatchable targets and you look at Mr. Dane Key, only one other SEC receiver last year turned in a better contested catch rate and success rate,” Brooks said. “So yes, you like to think that he can absolutely help elevate whether it is taking a window of a tight window short in that bang-bang play right ahead of the sticks or throwing someone open beyond the sticks for a key completion.”

As these two team up with Coen who helped lead a super-efficient Kentucky offense that made a living of a short-to-intermediate passing game, there should be a fairly high ceiling. The passing game in Lexington has a chance to carry an offense. Add in Devin Leary’s ability to stretch the field, and Kentucky could see its first 3,000-yard passer since Mike Hartline.