A Notre Dame-to-Tulane transfer who rebuilt his career as a UFL return weapon after an injury cut short his Bills tenure.
Lawrence Keys III is a 5-foot-10 receiver and return specialist who began his college career at Notre Dame before finding his footing at Tulane. After a training-camp injury ended his run with the Buffalo Bills, he re-established himself with the UFL's Houston Gamblers and signed with the Lions in the summer of 2026.
Path to the league
Keys played his first three college seasons at Notre Dame (2018-2021), catching 18 passes for 185 yards, before transferring to Tulane. Over two seasons with the Green Wave he totaled 63 receptions for 895 yards and nine touchdowns, including a 599-yard, seven-touchdown senior campaign in 2023. He signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2024 but was released with an injury settlement before the season began.
Career highlights
Keys' senior year at Tulane stands as the highlight of his college resume, and he carried that production into professional football as a versatile receiver and return man. His combination of route-running and open-field speed made him a repeated target for NFL and spring-league rosters.
2025 season recap
Keys spent 2025 rebuilding his career outside the NFL after his Bills injury setback, then broke out with the UFL's Houston Gamblers in 2026, finishing second in the league with 1,001 all-purpose yards over 10 games. He led Houston's receiving corps with 349 yards on 24 catches and ranked third in the UFL with 518 return yards on 19 kick returns, production that helped him land a contract with Detroit.
Sources
- Roundtable: Former Tulane WR Lawrence Keys Signs With Lions After Standout UFL Campaign
- The UFL: Houston Gamblers Wide Receiver Lawrence Keys III Signs With Detroit Lions
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- practiceSquad
- College
- Tulane
- Hometown
- New Orleans, LA, USA
- Age
- 26
- Status
- practice-squad
