Keith Abney II
Detroit LionsOur College Grade
How good he was in college at what his position is supposed to do, out of 100. Scored against everyone else at his position, adjusted for the level he played at. This is not his NFL grade.
College Production
Arizona State · Big 12
| Season | Tkl | TFL | Sacks | Hur | PD | INT | Pos Rk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 52 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 63 |
| 2025 | 44 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 19 |
The seasons in our college data. It does not always reach back to a player's first year.
Scouting Report
Arizona State · 2026 draft class
Keith Abney II is a technically refined cornerback with elite mirror-and-match footwork that allows him to smother receivers in coverage. At 6'0", 190 pounds, the Arizona State junior took an unconventional path to college football-he was a national-level speed roller skater in his youth, setting a national record in the 300m for 13-year-olds in 2017 and winning four national championships. Originally committed to Utah State, Abney flipped to Arizona State when Kenny Dillingham took over the program. His athletic background shows in his coverage-his footwork is described as "absolutely nasty," recovering from disadvantageous positions with sudden, twitchy adjustments that leave receivers wondering what happened. Abney's awareness, vision, and processing speed combine to make him a significan't threat in zone coverage, sorting through layered routes and keeping track of receivers at depth. He baits quarterbacks into poor throws before using his burst to undercut routes. As a sophomore in 2024, Abney started all 14 games and tied for the team lead with 3 interceptions while leading Arizona State with 9 pass breakups and 52 tackles. His 11 forced incompletions ranked fourth in the Big 12 per PFF. His matching skills, swivel and hinge flexibility, and catch-point impact compare favorably to Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson.
Strengths
- Elite mirror-and-match footwork described as absolutely nasty
- Sudden twitchy adjustments to recover from disadvantaged positions
- Excellent awareness
- vision
- and processing in zone coverage
- Baits QBs into poor throws before bursting to undercut routes
- Sound footwork
- smooth hip transitions
- and focused eyes
- Versatile alignment at boundary or nickel
Concerns
- Lacks prototypical height for modern outside corner
- Top-shelf speed not elite-recovers with burst and leverage instead
- Hip stiffness slows transitions out of half-turn at times
- Limited press coverage experience-rarely asked to jam at ASU
- Plays routes over middle too loose in man coverage
- Needs more urgency working over middle of field
- Hesitates on instincts in zone limiting playmaking range
- Physical limitations including height concerns
Honors
#3 CB in 2026 class; #23 overall prospect; 3-star recruit; 4x national roller skating champion; Declared for 2026 NFL Draft