LAWRENCE KEYS
McDonogh 35 High School; New Orleans
Measurements: 5’11”, 160 lbs.
Accolades: Consensus three-star prospect, No. 22 recruit in Louisiana, per rivals.com.
Other Notable Offers: Holding offers from the likes of Georgia, LSU, Michigan and Oklahoma, Keys’ recruitment came down to Notre Dame and Texas.
Projected Position: Receiver.
Quick Take: Keys brings more speed to the Irish receiving corps. His measurements may indicate he is slight of frame, but that would not be wholly accurate. Nonetheless, time spent in a collegiate strength and conditioning program will diminish those concerns and help Keys fit more in line with what Irish offensive coordinator Chip Long typically prefers in receivers.
Short-Term Roster Outlook: Notre Dame’s current receivers do not boast an excess of top-end speed, especially after the dismissal of current sophomore Kevin Stepherson and the intended transfer of junior C.J. Sanders. Keys will not arrive as highly-touted for his speed as classmate Braden Lenzy will, but if he can establish himself before the Oregon track star does, then there may be a role for Keys right away.
Long-View Depth Chart Impact: Even if Lenzy gets the nod ahead of Keys this season, the latter will have plenty of chances moving forward, considering they are essentially the only two burners in the Irish receiving room at the moment. Junior Chris Finke is certainly quick and graduate transfer Freddy Canteen was brought in largely for his speed when healthy, but neither has the ability to take the top off a secondary like Lenzy and Keys should.
Keys is the fourth receiver in this class. That is quite a haul in every respect, and from a pure numbers standpoint, it sets up Notre Dame very well for the next few years.
We got the 🔑🔑🔑...LK3 that is.
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) February 7, 2018
The Louisiana native was born on the Bayou but @LawrenceKeys_ is destined for the Bend...South Bend that is.#GoIrish ☘ #IrishBouND18 pic.twitter.com/uTXiyhpmFY
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