By LARRY VAUGHT
He has a lot of potential college choices and likely will still get more scholarship offers but Frederick Douglass junior receiver Dane Key has cut his list of potential schools to 10.
He did that Sunday on his mother’s birthday and has Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas, Michigan State, Oregon, South Carolina, Purdue, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech and Mississippi State left on his list. Other offers included Texas and Tennessee while both Notre Dame and Ohio State have shown interest.
“These 10 really stood out to me,” said Key. “They showed the most love to me and showed they want and need me to play and help them compete for a national championship.”
Key had 37 catches for 625 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020 — teammate Dekel Crowdus, a UK signee, had 31 catches for 397 yards and 10 scores. As a sophomore, Key had 33 catches for 545 yards and eight scores.
Key obviously is looking for a team that has a passing attack to utilize his skills. He’s done numerous Zoom calls with coaches who have told him “how much they respect my game and how I play” while showing him how he would fit into their offense.
“They have all just basically told me how they need me,” Key said. “They are all great schools. I knew eventually football will end and there will be life after football and they all can help get me ready for that.”
Several weeks ago speculation surfaced that Kentucky was not high on his list because UK did not recruit his brother, Western Kentucky standout Devon Key who is now preparing for the NFL draft. Dane Key’s father, Donte, played linebacker at UK from 1992-95 and is on the Douglass coaching staff.
“Kentucky is definitely on the list and I am just going to keep going with my decision making process,” the Frederick Douglass junior said. “I don’t really pay attention to what too many other people say. I keep things in my family and my circle. What outsiders might say is not what my decision will be.”
The 6-2, 175-pound Key is a four star recruit and ranked among the nation’s top 200 players by some recruiting services. He is the top rated player in Kentucky in his class.
He’s hoping to be able to make some campus visits in June and then be able to narrow his list to five schools for his official visits. He has no timeline for picking a school.
“I want to make my decision in the middle of my senior season or after my senior season,” Key said. “I want to take my time and make sure I am making the best decision for me.”
He feels blessed to have a father and brother who have both been through the recruiting process. He says that helps him know more about what to look for with coaches and schools.
Dane Key said his family, including his mother Nicole, had input into his final 10 list he released Sunday.
“We talked about the offers we had and who wants me and who me and the family feel fit me the best,” Key said. “All the coaches I have talked to are great coaches. They tell me different things but it is a lot of the same about how much of a difference maker I can be in college.”
No matter which school he picks or when he makes his decision, Key will not be an early enrollee because he wants to play his senior baseball season. He did not get a 2020 season because of COVID. A “couple” of schools in his final 10 have told him he could play baseball and football in college.
“I really have not thought 100 percent about baseball in college. Developing as a player and getting on the field early (in football) is my goal and I do not know if playing baseball would be best for that,” Key said.
“I have actually been playing baseball a little longer than football. It was the first sport I played. Getting to go out there now and play and swing the bat helps clear my mind about recruiting. It allows me to play the game I love and just have fun. Playing baseball with my friends takes the stress away (over football) when I am out there.”
* * *