​NEW ORLEANS — Lawrence Keys III was part of a Tulane football squad that raised the Green Wave’s championship bar to new heights with conference and Cotton Bowl titles in 2022. “Every time I touch the field, I go back to that night. We won a conference championship and everybody stormed the field. It was a pretty big moment,” Keys recalled. His contributions to that defining run included a pivotal 43-yard touchdown reception in the American Conference Championship game, a moment he celebrated right in front of his mother. “That morning when I woke up, I had a great feeling that something good was going to happen that day. To score that touchdown in front of her and the family was just a dream come true,” Keys said.
After two seasons with the Green Wave, Lawrence Keys’ NFL ambitions began to take shape. He joined the Bills as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2024, but a training camp injury cut his time in Buffalo short. He was redirected to the UFL, where he spent two seasons with the Houston Gamblers. There, Keys led the team in receiving this spring and established himself as their top special teams weapon. “I was just making plays with the ball in my hands. Once the ball was in my possession, I tried to do special things—turning short gains into bigger yardage, scoring touchdowns, and creating big plays when opportunities arose,” Keys explained.
Keys’ standout 2026 season drew NFL interest, and last month the former McDonogh 35 star inked a deal with the Detroit Lions. “I want to win and achieve big things, so I felt that this was the right place and the right program for me to enter. I want to inject some juice there, bring a little southern mentality, and contribute to a team that’s already been a strong contender for years. Joining the Lions is a blessing,” he said.
This chapter of Keys’ journey underscores his perseverance and adaptability, moving from college glory to the pro ranks through a circuitous path that included the UFL and a setback with an NFL club. As he joins Detroit, the expectations are high for a player who has repeatedly demonstrated resilience, a knack for rising to the moment, and a talent for turning opportunities into meaningful contributions on the field.
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