Dane Key and Barion Brown Taking Steps to Be More Physical Receivers

Vicky Graff Photo

The return of offensive coordinator Liam Coen would seem to be the perfect scenario for talented freshmen receivers Dane Key and Barion Brown to have even more productive sophomore seasons.

They led the team in receiving yards last season but Coen says it is about more than just yardage totals when it comes to being a better player.

“I think they learned the game is physical in the SEC,” Coen said during spring practice. “Whether that’s press and defeating man coverage or whether that’s going and blocking safeties, I think they know they need to take the next step physically.”

That next step is not on the football field, either.

“That’s eating right, that’s sleeping, how you’re living off the field. It’s doing all the little things to put yourself in a position to gain weight and be successful or else we’re going to keep getting thrown around and be weak at the point of attack, which is obviously not what we’re trying to get accomplished,” Coen said.

Key said the winter workouts helped him gain weight and strength and now he needs to make sure he follows the same plan during the summer to prepare for the 2023 season.

“Last year, I was kind of going into the season a little blind with how my body needed to be,” Key said.  “Now I know and figured out what I need to do for my body.

“Now I’ve got my body prepared for the season. Just trying to maintain it right now. Just trying to keep my body physically ready for the season.”