A Paul Hornung Award-winning Kentucky high school product who transferred to Nebraska for his final college season before joining his brother Devon on the Broncos.
Dane Key put together three productive seasons at Kentucky before transferring to Nebraska for 2025, and he now joins the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent alongside his older brother Devon, a Broncos All-Pro. Known as a polished route-runner, Key is fighting for a spot in a deep Denver receiver room.
Path to the league
A Lexington, Kentucky native, Key won the Paul Hornung Award as the state's top high school football player at Frederick Douglass High School before playing three seasons at Kentucky. He transferred to Nebraska in December 2024, went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, and signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent.
Career highlights
Key posted three straight seasons of steady production at Kentucky, topping out with 47 receptions for 715 yards and two touchdowns as a junior in 2024. Scouts have long praised him as one of the better route-runners in his class, even as questions lingered about his explosiveness against NFL-caliber cornerbacks.
2025 season recap
In his lone season at Nebraska, Key finished the regular season with 35 receptions for 424 yards and five touchdowns as he adjusted to a new offense and quarterback. He went undrafted that spring but quickly signed with Denver, where his brother Devon was coming off a first-team All-Pro season.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dane Key
- On3: Nebraska WR Dane Key signs UDFA deal with Denver Broncos after 2026 NFL Draft
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Nebraska
- Hometown
- Lexington, KY, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
