Kentucky commit Dane Key named Paul Hornung Award winner

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Dane Key with his parents after making his commitment to UK. The Frederick Douglass receiver is this year's Paul Hornung Award recipient as the state's top player. (Alex Otte Photo)

The Paul Hornung Award is about more than just numbers and Frederick Douglass coach Nathan McPeek understands why that makes receiver Dane Key such a deserving winner of this year’s award.

“He is a dynamic athlete and a person who leads by example by living our core values,” said McPeek. “He’s the most talented player on the field but he never acts that way. He’s all about making our team better and helping others become better.”

Key will be playing in the Class 5A state title game Saturday against South Warren. He has 48 catches for 460 yards and nine scores this season along with one kickoff return for another touchdown.

The Louisville Quarterback Club will present the Paul Hornung Award to Key Dec. 21st at Wildwood Country Club in Louisville.

“Our board just felt like he met all the criteria to be the state’s top player,” Louisville Quarterback Club president Gordon Crawford said.

Key’s father, Donte, is a former UK linebacker. Dane Key committed to UK over Oregon, South Carolina, Michigan, and Western Kentucky. He had over 20 scholarship offers.

Key’s former teammate, offensive lineman Jager Burton, won the Hornung Award last year. Lexington Catholic quarterback Beau Allen was the 2019 winner and Western Hills receiver Wan’Dale Robinson got the Hornung Award in 2018. All three now play for Kentucky.

Donte Key said it was “stunning” that his son earned such a prestigious award.

“I am so proud that he has played within the team concept,” Donte Key, a Frederick Douglass assistant coach, said. “He’s not one to jump up and down and say throw me the ball. He celebrates with his team. When we win and do well, he’s thrilled. He wants everyone to be part of the offense.”

Donte Key said his son would be “ecstatic” when he found out he had won the award, especially since Burton won the same award last year.

“This is really a big deal and a huge honor,” Donte Key said.

What makes Dane Key a special receiver that so many schools wanted?

“One thing that makes Dane such a good receiver is that his hands are so big. They are bigger than mine. He catches the ball really well. His catch radius is enormous. He’s kind of like (former UK basketball player) Anthony Davis and has a lot of stretch in his arms,” Donte Key said.

“He really has great ball skills. If you put the ball around a receiver and it touches his hands, he should catch it. Kids will drop some balls but the majority of the time a quarterback should feel confident if he gets the ball around you, you should catch it and Dane will.”

McPeek said the 6-3 Key is “faster” than most think because he runs so effortlessly.

“He’s very elusive and hard to tackle one on one. He studies the game and has a great football IQ,” McPeek said. “He’s going to fit in great at Kentucky. He’ll be playing with some buddies and will know a lot of players on the team. I think he’ll be a great playmaker and great team player just like he has been for us.”

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The Paul Hornung Award was started in 1993 by the Louisville Quarterback Club with the support of Hornung, a Louisville native and member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Some past winners of the award are Shaun Alexander (1993), Tim Couch (1995), Dennis Johnson (1997), Michael Bush (2001/2002), Brian Brohn (2002/2003), Damien Harris (2014), and Rondale Moore (2017).

3 Responses

  1. For the last three years, I have watched Dane develop. I’ve seen his ESPN sport center catches. Cisco Bryant my God Son, said Dane made the most of his recruiting visits and enjoyed them all. "I couldn’t get a reading on Dane before he committed because every place he went Dane said was the best place he had visited," Bryant said.

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