Former Kentucky WR Dane Key calls the transfer portal 'a dangerous game'

For some, the transfer portal can turn a career around. For others, it can bring it to a halt.

That’s the message former Kentucky wide receiver and Lexington native Dane Key, now at Nebraska, shared during the Cornhuskers’ pre-bowl game press conference on Tuesday. Key’s media availability came on the heels of Nebraska starting quarterback Dylan Raiola announcing his intentions to transfer the day prior.

“The portal, it’s a dangerous game,” Key warned. “You can go into a better situation. You can go into a situation where you think it’s gonna be better, but the grass isn’t always greener. Some of those type of things. I think Coach (Matt) Rhule does a great job of telling his guys, his team of what they should do. He’s gonna keep it real with you, because he’s one of the best head coaches in the game. He’s gonna be honest with you, no matter the feelings involved in the situation.”

Raiola, a Nebraska legacy, is not expected to play with Key and the rest of his Nebraska teammates in the program’s upcoming bowl game after suffering a broken right fibula in mid-November. The Cornhuskers face No. 15 Utah on Dec. 31 in the Las Vegas Bowl. The transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2. Raiola has already been linked to Louisville as a possible landing spot.

"The transfer portal is a dangerous game. You can go into a better situation. You can go into a situation that you think will be better, but the grass isn't actually greener."

Powerful words from Huskers WR Dane Key, who entered the portal last year going to NEB from Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/5UWaHoEQ1H

— randysilvertv (@randysilvertv) December 17, 2025

Some might point to Key’s comments as him reflecting on his own college career. Born and raised in the Bluegrass State, the Frederick Douglass High School product spent his first three seasons at Kentucky. He caught 37 passes for 519 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman in 2022, 42 passes for 636 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023, and 47 passes for 715 yards and two touchdowns as a junior in 2024.

At least statistically, Key’s senior year at Nebraska was his worst: 35 receptions, 424 yards, and five touchdowns. His 12.1 yards per catch in 2025 marked a career low. But playing next to Raiola, whom Key called a good friend, those two did help lead Nebraska to a 7-5 record and a postseason berth. In Key’s entire interview, he did not appear to be throwing any shade Kentucky or Nebraska’s way. If anything, he was offering real advice to players considering looking elsewhere.

“I think everybody knows, today’s day and age, everybody has to do what they think is best for themselves,” Key said. “What Dylan had to do, was him and his family believed was best for himself. No hard feelings, everybody knows the business in today’s age of college football. Everybody is super excited for him to go out there and do what’s best for him. This team will continue to move forward.”

Key’s college career is about to come to an end. The bowl game vs. Utah will be his final game before turning his attention toward the NFL Draft. As someone who played four years of college football at the beginning of the new NIL/transfer portal era, he’s speaking as someone with plenty of experience.