Film Room: Khalifa Keith

For the first time in nearly a month, Kentucky added another commitment to its class on this holiday Monday. Birmingham (Ala.) Parker running back Khalifa Keith made it official by committing to Kentucky. Keith becomes the second tailback to join the fold in the class of 2023.

The mid three-star recruit took official visits to both Georgia Tech and Kentucky in June with Florida State entering the party late with a scholarship offer. However, the Wildcats were able to win out with a commitment in July. The second-team All-State selection in Alabama rushed for 1,877 yards last season averaging 9.9 yards per rush leading the Herd to an 11-3 record.

Kentucky is adding a big tailback with size that flashes strong vision and some surprising explosiveness. Let’s roll the tape.

The Wildcats are determined to be a wide zone offense moving forward, and that running concept should be seen much more on the field in 2022. Tailbacks of all different shapes and sizes can succeed in this structure. However, vision and explosiveness through a small area will be separators at the position.

Khalifa Keith shows flashes of both on tape.

On the rep, Keith does a good job of setting up and reading his blockers. Once seeing that his right tackle has his man sealed to the outside, Keith is able to take a strong cut to the inside that allows the tailback to get north-south and attack the open seam. The prospect bursts through the opening and then hits an extra gear to allow him to outrun the secondary for an huge explosive play touchdown.

Vision, burst, and speed all flashed in one rep for a high school tailback that is nearly 220 pounds.

When scouting Khalifa Keith, the size immediately stands out as this is a big tailback that could turn into a bruising pile mover at the next level. However, some of his best runs come when allowed to play in space. On the speed option, the 2023 prospect flashes some wiggle with short-area explosion.

Despite the space on the field shrinking for the tailback as three defenders close in, Keith’s vision finds some daylight and the tailback is able to make a sharp cut inside. Once there, the ballcarrier once again flashes some explosion and sprints by a secondary defender for the big-play touchdown.

Khalifa Keith also has some power to go along with his wiggle.

On the wildcat formation play in the red zone, the tailback maneuvers his way around a tackle for loss and then drives his way through the final six yards to finish with a touchdown through contact. Wiggle and power are two important qualities to have in short-yardage offense.

On nearly every rep, Khalifa Keith is a downhill runner who flashes burst, but there also appears to be some legit physicality in the bag.

Kentucky enters the 2022 football season with six scholarship tailbacks, but three of those are entering their redshirt/super senior season. That position room will turnover after the year, and it was important to address the position. The Wildcats did that by adding two tailbacks to the class.

Khalifa Keith now joins Kaden Moorman in the class as the Wildcats have found a pair of 200-plus pound backs with power and burst. There is a lot to like here. The latest commitment flashes vision, feel, and a surprising extra gear on tape with a frame that should be able to get up to 230 pounds in an SEC strength and conditioning program.

The latest commitment seems to have a good understanding of his strengths and plays to them consistently. Khalifa Keith is a big back with good vision and feel. However, there are not many wasted movements as the tailback gets north/south as quickly as possible to take advantage of his big frame.

The Wildcats are transitioning to a new running scheme, but size and power still matter. Kentucky has gotten bigger at the tailback position in the class of 2023.