While Kentucky football’s offense is still trying to find its footing, Dane Key delivered his best performance in blue and white in the team’s 41-6 win over Ohio on Saturday.
On the day, Key tied his career high in receptions with seven and set a new career high with 145 yards. Pro Football Focus graded Key as the best wide receiver across college football for week four.
Through the first three games leading into the big day, Key had accumulated just eight catches for 119 yards.
“First off, I just wanna thank God for allowing me to come out here and do what I was able to do today,” Key said. “It all just fell into place today, I was just out there trying to play for my team and the ball just found me.”
Key’s day began with a 16-yard reception, which was his only catch of the first quarter.
Then, the second quarter began with Key hauling in a 15-yard pass, which set up first-and-goal for the Wildcats, who were looking to break a two-game-and-one-quarter touchdown drought. The Cats were able to do just that as Demie Sumo-Karngbaye rushed in for the score.
Key’s fortunes continued in the next offensive series for the Cats as they looked destined to stall out as they faced a third-and-13, but quarterback Brock Vandagriff connected with the star wide receiver for a 42-yard reception.
“Dane is a heck of a receiver, really glad he’s wearing blue and white,” Vandagriff said. “He’s just a true team player, really glad he is on our squad.”
Later on the same drive, this time on a fourth-and-seven, Vandagriff found Key again and he caught the ball well past the sticks for the first down.
He didn’t stop there, though, as he accelerated up the sideline and hurdled a defender like Kentucky’s own Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who was in attendance at the game.
“I hope she saw that,” Key said. “I hope my form was pretty good.”
By the time he was brought down, the gain was good for 36-yards and once again set up first-and-goal for the Wildcats.
The next catch Key hauled in was a 33-yarder, but it did not count due to a penalty on the Wildcats.
Moving into the third quarter, the only connection between the duo of Vandagriff and Key was a six-yard reception.
The final two connections between the two both came in the fourth quarter and were good for gains of 14 and 16 yards, respectively.
As Vandagriff continues to find himself as a starter in the SEC, the chemistry between himself and Key is evident.
“I just love playing with Brock,” Key said. “Anytime I can get out there and make a play for Brock, I’m willing to do it.”
The big day for the homegrown talent did not come as a surprise to his play caller, who sees Key’s work ethic every day in practice.
“When some of your best players are your hardest workers, these things happen,” offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan said. “Dane’s a guy where it doesn’t matter if it’s the hardest practice of the year, every day after practice, he’s getting extra work in extra catches, extra jugs, extra blocking stuff.”
Key and the Wildcats will look to build on the victory as they hit the road for the first time this season to face No. 5 Ole Miss on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET and will air live on ABC.
