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Before Nebraska (Frederick Douglass HS/Kentucky)
Dane Key played three seasons at Kentucky before transferring to Nebraska. In his three years as a Wildcat, Key played in 38 games with 35 starts, catching 126 passes for 1,870 yards and 14 touchdowns. At the conclusion of his career, Key ranked fifth on Kentucky’s all-time receptions list and 13th in career receiving yards.
As a junior in 2024, Key played in 12 games with 11 starts. He had 47 receptions for 715 yards and two touchdowns, setting career highs in catches and receiving yards. Key posted two 100-yard receiving games and led Kentucky in receptions and receiving yards.
Key made 42 grabs for 636 yards and six touchdowns while playing in 13 games with 12 starts as a sophomore in 2023. He led Kentucky in receiving yards and posted his first career 100-yard receiving game against Tennessee (113 yards).
In his freshman season, Key recorded 37 receptions, 519 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2022. He played in 13 games with 12 starts as a freshman and led the team with his six touchdown receptions, which were a Kentucky freshman record. Key started the season opener in 2022, becoming the first Wildcat true freshman wide receiver to start a season opener since 2003.
Before Kentucky, Key was a four-star prospect out of Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington. He was regarded as the top player in Kentucky by 247Sports and ESPN, with both services ranking Key among the nation’s top 250 overall recruits and top 40 wide receivers. He won the Paul Hornung Award as the Kentucky Player of the Year as a senior, when he was also the Class 5A Player of the Year. Key had 959 receiving yards with nine touchdowns as a senior. He caught 37 passes for 625 yard and 11 touchdowns as a junior, when he earned the first of two consecutive appointments to the all-state first team.
Dane’s father, Donte’, was a linebacker/defensive end at Kentucky from 1992 to 1995. Dane’s brother, Devon, was a safety at Western Kentucky who is in his fourth NFL season in 2024.