Dane Key named team captain at Nebraska

Dane Key Georgia — Sep 28, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Dane Key (6) runs after a catch as Mississippi Rebels defensive back Trey Washington (25) pursues during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Kentucky’s wide receiver room features a lot of new faces. We are still unsure how playing time will workout for a group loaded with first-year transfers and a new position coach. But we do know that this unit’s former No. 1 wideout will play a big role in the Big Ten.

Dane Key left UK for Nebraska in the offseason. The senior has one year of eligibility remaining and brings 126 career receptions for 1,870 yards and 14 touchdowns to Matt Rhule‘s program in Lincoln. The former four-star recruit out of Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass is expected to be a big part of Dana Holgorsen‘s offense and to be a top target for former five-star quarterback recruit Dylan Raiola. All signs point to a big season in the Big Ten for Key.

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That continued this week when the Kentucky transfer was named a Nebraska team captain.

The 2025 Nebraska Football Team Captains. pic.twitter.com/Xg0Krxciyc
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) August 23, 2025

Nebraska opens up the season on Thursday night with a prime-time game against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. There is a lot of buzz about Nebraska’s transfer class as the Huskers loaded up at wide receiver and the offensive line to build a better infrastructure around Raiola. Much of the hype is because of what Dane Key can bring to the offense. The free agent addition was recently named a top-10 transfer addition by USA Today.

The former Kentucky receiver is playing a massive role for his new program. Expectations are very high. Dane Key seems to have met those expectations throughout the offseason and in the preseason.

Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker

This is where every outgoing Kentucky player landed this offseason.

DL Keeshawn Silver (Committed to USC on Dec. 19)
DB Avery Stuart (Committed to Ball State on Jan. 5)
LB Jayvant Brown (Committed to Temple on Jan. 9)
TE Tanner Lemaster (Committed to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 22)
TE Khamari Anderson (Committed to Arizona State on Dec. 22)
TE Jordan Dingle (Committed to South Carolina on Dec. 18)
OL Courtland Ford (Committed to UCLA on Dec. 17)
OL Ben Christman (Committed to UNLV on Dec. 27)
OL Dylan Ray (Committed to Minnesota on Dec. 21)
OL Koby Keenum (Committed to Mississippi State on Dec. 22)
DL Tommy Ziesmer (Committed to EKU on Dec. 15)
WR Dane Key (Committed to Nebraska on Dec. 24)
WR Barion Brown (Committed to LSU on Dec. 14)
WR Anthony Brown-Stephens (Committed to Tulane on Jan. 7)
WR Brandon White (Committed to Hawaii on Dec. 28)
EDGE Tyreese Fearbry (Committed to Wisconsin on Dec. 22)
EDGE Noah Matthews (Committed to Delaware on Jan. 7)
EDGE Caleb Redd (Committed to Kansas on Dec. 20)
RB Chip Trayanum (Committed to Toledo on Dec. 24)
QB Gavin Wimsatt (Committed to Jacksonville State on Jan. 5)
DL Kendrick Gilbert (Committed to Louisville on April 29)
OL Daniel Mincey (Committed to UAB on May 16)
OL Anfernee Crease (Committed to Texas State on April 29)
CB Jiquavious “Quavo” Marshall (Committed to Liberty on April 27)
OL Marc Nave Jr. (Committed to Purdue on April 22)
OL Wallace Unamba (Committed to Virginia on April 20)
DL Dennious Jackson (Committed to Colorado State on May 8)
DL Darrion Henry-Young (Committed to Coastal Carolina on May 2)

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. Keep closer tabs on the Cats with at KSBoard. Not a KSR+ member? Try it out today.