Skip to main content
tennessee logo

Tennessee senior wide receiver Ramel Keyton declares for the 2024 NFL Draft

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•01/06/24•

GrantRamey

Ramel Keyton
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK) Tennessee wide receiver Ramel Keyton (9) attempts to catch a long throw during a football game between Tennessee and UTSA at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Tennessee defeated UTSA 45-14.

Tennessee’s Ramel Keyton has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 197 pound junior wide receiver announced his decision on social media on Friday night, turning pro after a career year with the Vols.

Keyton this season caught 35 passes for 642 yards and six touchdowns, all career highs, averaging 18.3 yards per catch. In 55 career games at Tennessee, Keyton caught 86 passes for 1,456 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Keyton missed a statement on social media on Friday, thanking family, friends, coaches, teammates and Tennessee fans:

First, I want to thank God for all of the blessings and the position He has put me in, Lam nothing without Him.

To my family and friends, thank you for the unconditional love and support.

To my coaches, thank you for your guidance and challenging me to become a better player, teammate, and person.

To my teammates, thank you for embracing me and pushing me to play at a higher level every day.

And lasty to Vol Nation, thank you for being the best fan base out there, I’ll cherish every moment of my time here for life.

I’m excited to announce my decision to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Keyton caught three passes for 51 yards in Tennessee’s 35-0 win over Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday. He had a season-high 122 yards and two touchdowns on four catches against Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale on November 25 at Neyland Stadium.

He caught 31 passes for 562 yards and five touchdowns during a breakout junior season in 2022, averaging 18.1 yards per reception. He stepped into the spotlight after Cedric Tillman suffered a high-ankle sprain.

Keyton had a career highlight catch against Florida at home last season, laying out in a full-extension dive to haul in a 43-yard pass from Hendon Hooker with just over a minute left in the first half.

The catch sparked a 99-yard touchdown drive to close the first half, helping Tennessee take 17-14 lead into halftime on the way to a 38-33 win.

Keyton was a four-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle out of Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga. He was ranked No. 94 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He was the No. 19 wide receiver in the country and the No. 12 overall player in the state of Georgia. 

Other Tennessee players that have declared for the draft include running backs Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small, quarterback Joe Milton III and defensive backs Jaylen McCollough and Gabe Jeudy-Lally.

You may also like