Receiver Dane Key enrolled at UK now to get head start on next season

Dane Key with his parents, Nicole and Donte, after he received the Paul Hornung Award from the Louisville Quarterback Club as the state's top high school player. (Lacy Robinson Photo)

Four-star receiver Dane Key intended to finish his senior season at Frederick Douglass High School and enjoy one final season of baseball, a sport he’s always enjoyed and thought at one time he might even play in college. However, the Kentucky signee is now enrolled at UK for the spring semester and it’s not hard to understand his thinking.

“Getting into the system and getting to learn under coach (Liam) Coen early and getting an advantage getting into the playbook early is something I talked about with my family and we thought was in my best interest to get to work early,” said Key, the Paul Hornung Award winner as the state’s top high school player.

What that means is that Key sees a chance to play as a true freshman and realizes getting a full off-season, including spring practice, under offensive coordinator Liam Coen enhances his chances of playing next season.

“Hitting that weight room and getting to play in spring practice is an advantage that can help me play earlier. I get that,” Key said. “Coach Coen told me to stay in the playbook. I will be at the facility and get a lot of work, but the main thing is to get on that playbook.”

Key also admitted being so close to home makes it easier to go ahead and start his collegiate career.

“If I do miss mom and dad, I can drive home 10 minutes away and have dinner. Anything my high school friends do, I can still get with them and do,”  Key said.

Coach Mark Stoops is apparently going to give Key, the son of former UK linebacker Donte Key, plenty to keep him busy.

“He’s a guy that I would expect to come in and play just because he has the size, he has that ability to make competitive catches, and the great length that he has, but he’s also very sudden,” Stoops said about Key on national signing day.

Key appreciated what Stoops said but also knows “nothing will be given to me” at Kentucky. The Cats signed four other receivers and also have some receivers off last year’s team waiting for a chance to play.

“I have to come in ready to work. I am going to have to earn everything that comes to me,” Key said. “I am really happy with the other receivers we signed. Just being able to be around other studs makes it a lot better. You can learn from other people, So learning from the receivers we brought in is going to be a big advantage for me.

“A couple of them are really fast and you can’t teach speed. Being around those fast dudes, I will try to learn and get faster if I can.”

Kentucky’s premier receiver this season was Wan’Dale Robinson. Key texts him regularly.

Key knows what helped make Robinson elite.

“His work ethic that he did all through spring ball and all season separates him. Getting in that playbook and getting stronger and faster, that’s what gave him an advantage, especially with the skills he has,” Key said. “So I know I have to work and do what needs to be done to succeed in the SEC.”