Dane Key WR Kentucky | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Dane Key WR Kentucky
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 12/06/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (51%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 07/01/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 12/06/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (51%*) | |
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 07/01/2003 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 82.7 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 74.5 | |
| Hands: |
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77% |
| Short Receiving: |
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83% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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90% |
| Deep Threat: |
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88% |
| Blocking: |
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66% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#96
Position rank:
#12
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| College Games: 37 College Snaps: 1760 | ||
ESPN RATING: 82/100
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247 RATING: 91/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cedric Tillman - Tennessee |
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89% |
| Brenden Rice - USC |
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85% |
| Jonathan Mingo - Ole Miss |
|
83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Dane Key emerged as a standout receiver for Kentucky, showcasing his talents over two productive seasons in the SEC. The Lexington native made an immediate impact as a freshman, setting a school record with six touchdown receptions. Key built on that success in his sophomore campaign, leading the team with 636 receiving yards and six more scores.The son of former Wildcats linebacker Donte' Key, Dane arrived on campus as a highly touted four-star recruit. He quickly lived up to the billing, becoming the first true freshman to start at wide receiver in Kentucky's season opener since Keenan Burton in 2003. Key's consistency and reliability were evident from the start, as he recorded a touchdown catch in each of his first three collegiate games.
His production in the SEC, totaling 1,155 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns over two seasons, speaks to his ability to perform against top-tier competition. As Key enters his junior year, he'll look to further refine his skills and solidify his draft stock in a new-look Kentucky offense.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Excellent route runner with a deep understanding of defensive leverages and how to create separation at the stem
- Displays soft, reliable hands when catching away from his body, making him a dependable target in crucial situations
- Possesses good body control and adjustment skills, allowing him to make difficult catches in traffic and along the sidelines
- Demonstrates advanced football IQ, consistently finding soft spots in zone coverage and sitting down in open areas
- Uses his 6'3" frame effectively to box out defenders and win contested catch situations, particularly in the red zone
- Shows good release packages against press coverage, giving him versatility to line up both outside and in the slot
- Exhibits strong focus and concentration, rarely dropping catchable passes thrown his way
- Productive player who has proven he can perform consistently against high-level SEC competition
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks elite top-end speed to consistently threaten defenses vertically or create significant separation on deep routes
- Could improve hand usage when working against more physical corners who disrupt his timing at the line of scrimmage
- Not a dynamic threat after the catch, offering limited elusiveness or ability to make defenders miss in the open field
- May struggle to consistently win against press coverage from larger, more physical NFL cornerbacks
- Needs to develop a more diverse route tree to become a more complete receiver at the next level
Scouting Report: Summary
Key projects as a reliable possession receiver at the NFL level, with the potential to develop into a solid WR2 or high-end WR3. His route-running savvy and sure hands will make him a valuable asset in the intermediate passing game, particularly on third downs and in red zone situations. While he may not possess the elite athleticism to consistently win on the outside against top NFL corners, his size and catch radius could make him an effective big slot receiver in the right system.Teams running West Coast-style offenses that emphasize precision route-running and possession receiving will likely value Key's skill set the most. His ability to find soft spots in zone coverage and win in tight spaces could make him an excellent security blanket for young quarterbacks. To maximize his potential at the next level, Key will need to continue refining his route-running technique and develop more nuance in his stems to create separation against NFL-caliber defenders.
Written By:
Wyatt Brooks (SEC)
How other scouting services rate Dane Key (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
97.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
13.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.