Penn Statehashigh expectations for the 2024 college football seasonfollowing another 10-win regular seasoncampaign last fall. The Nittany Lions areprojected as a fringe top-10 team in earlynational preseason rankings, withBig Ten championship aspirationsanda debut College Football Playoff appearancein focus.
PSU opens its 2024 game scheduleAug. 31 at West Virginiaina rematch of the Nittany Lions' 2023 opener win. In the meantime, our Countdown to Kickoff series will feature players whose uniform numbers correspond with that number of days remaining until that matchup.Now at48days,we focus onsecond-year Nittany Lions linebacker Kaveion Keys.
THE BASICS
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirtfreshman
Size: 6-foot-2, 230 pounds
High school:Varina (Richmond, Va.)
PATH TO PENN STATE
Kaveion Keysdidn't make it easy on Penn State. In fact, Nittany Lions head coachJames Franklindescribedthe recruitment— which featured a late flip from North Carolina — as a "roller coaster" multiple times on National Signing Day.
"To be honest with you, we didn't think we were going to get him probably a month ago," Franklin said in December 2022. "Things worked out and we were able to get him onboard and join our class."
At one point, Keys told Franklin that he wanted to commit, but still wanted to wait until the February signing period to lock in his binding national letter of intent. However, a couple days before the early signing period began, Keys made his pledge, and then he followed through with his signature.
"The linebackers that came from there, I want to be the next great linebacker," Keys told 247Sports after his decision. "I know I'm going to have to work for it, but I like the challenge."
During his junior and senior high school seasons combined, Keys collected 135 tackles and 26 sacks. He ended the 2023 recruiting cycle cycle as a Top247 four-star talent, listed sixth among Virginia standouts, 16th nationally among linebackers and 188th overall in 247Sports rankings.
Keys was one of three linebackers to sign with Penn State's class, joiningTony Rojasand Ta'Mere Robinson. He enrolled in May 2023.
HAPPY VALLEY HIGHLIGHTS
Keys entered two contests as a freshman, totaling seven defensive snaps and preserving redshirt status. Beyond the spotlight of Beaver Stadium, Keys shined as a scout-team stalwart, sharing Developmental Squad Player of the Year honors for both defense and special teams.
"I chose here for a reason. I chose here to be great," Keys said earlier this year. "Sometimes you have to watch the older guys to really understand the game and soak in the knowledge."
Physical development has also been big early in Keys' college career. Headded approximately 25 pounds during his first year on campus.
2024 OUTLOOK
Keysspent much of the 2023 season as an understudy to All-Big Ten linebacker Abdul Carter, who moved to defensive end this offseason. Meanwhile, redshirt sophom*ore Keon Wylie exited spring campsidelined by an unspecified injuryafter stirring some buzz earlier in the year.
Thus, there is serious opportunity for Keys on this positional depth chart, which is expected to be led by Rojas, a sophom*ore, and redshirt junior Kobe King. Primary competitionto get on the field includes redshirt junior Dominic DeLuca, redshirt senior Tyler Elsdon and Robinson, his aforementioned 2023 classmate, while PSU picked up freshmen Kari Jackson and Anthony Speca earlier this year.
Expect special teams to once again be an area of concentration for Keys, who carries college eligibility through 2027.
* Redshirt junior long-snapperTyler Duzansky will also wear No. 48 for Penn State this season.
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Previous Numbers
49 - Ben Chizmar50 - Cooper Cousins and Alonzo Ford
51 - Hakeem Beamon
52 - Ryan Bates
53 - Nick Dawkins
54 - Xavier Gilliam
55 - Chimdy Onoh
56 - Joseph Mupoyi and JB Nelson
57 - Donnie Harbour
58 - Kaleb Artis
59 - Aaron Maybin
60 - Matt Millen
61 -Stefen Wisniewski62 - Michal Menet
63 - Alex Birchmeier
64- Eagan Boyer
65 - Miles Dieffenbach66 - Drew Shelton
67 -Kareem McKenzie68 - Anthony Donkoh
69 -Floyd Wedderburn70 - Garrett Sexton
71 - Vega Ioane
72 - Nolan Rucci
73 - Caleb Brewer74 - J'ven Williams
75 - Eric Shrive
76 - Steve Smear
77 - Sal Wormley
78 - Mike Munchak79 - Addison Penn
80 - Mehki Flowers
81 - Kyle Brady
82 - Kenny Jackson83 - Joe Jurevicius84 - Peter Gonzalez85 - Luke Reynolds86 - Brenton Stange
87 - Andrew Rappleyea88 -Jerry Cross89 -Dave Robinson90 -Liam Andrews91 -Dvon Ellies and Chase Meyer92 -Smith Vilbert93 -Sander Sahaydak94 -Ryan Barker and De'Andre Cook95 -Jordan Mayer and Riley Thompson96 -Immanuel Iyke97 -T.A. Cunningham98 -Jordan Stout99 -Coziah Izzard100-Meet the Penn State transfer class
