IRONTON, Ohio — Another week on the recruiting trail for BadgerExtra, another lopsided contest for a University of Wisconsin commit.
Ironton sits more than two hours south of Columbus. The drive to Tanks Memorial Stadium, less than a mile from the Ohio River and Kentucky border, reminded me of the trek on I-94 from Madison to Eau Claire, with its large rock formations and lush foliage of trees over rolling hills.
Catching UW commit Jaquez Keyes in person — albeit in limited snaps during the Tigers’ 62-0 win over Chesapeake last week — also calls to mind a rushing style of some former Badgers who roamed the backfield in Madison.
Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton credited the UW staff for staying in constant contact and building a relationship with one of his standout players.
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“They came down a few times, visited and were able to see our kids work a little bit,” Pendleton said. “They liked what they saw, and the proof’s in the pudding.
"Ja’s not afraid to get out and work out in front of teams and show what has gotten him to the level that he's at and what has gotten him the offers to play at the next level. And that is just showing up every day and that work ethic and that commitment to success.
"And he knows that's where he's gonna hang his hat on. He’s blue collar."
Check out BadgerExtra’s recruiting breakdown of Keyes, who is rated a four-star talent by Rivals.
Downhill ball-carrier
All of Keyes’ runs last week, along with his junior season Hudl highlights, show a physical back who can get north to south quickly. He knows he is a power back.
“We have another running back, Amari Felder ... he usually is our receiving back, and he's also a big-time guy for us,” Keyes said. “I’m more of a guy to get downhill, wear teams down. Eventually teams don't want to keep tackling you, so at the end of the day, we got the win and that’s all that matters.”
Keyes’ first and third touchdowns came within 10 yards of the end zone and with relative ease. Both showed how he can be an effective weapon with the pylon in sight.
His touchdown during the opening series of the play (see the first clip above) was pretty straight forward. A wide hole opened in front of him, and he trotted into the end zone unscathed.
He scored on a second-quarter play where he took a pitch to the left, but a penalty brought it back. Keyes recalled running the same play, and he showed patience while following his blockers. He worked across the goal line for a smooth touchdown.
Burst past defenders
His second touchdown, a 37-yard burst, showcased what I wanted to watch when I went to Ironton. He is a downhill back, but he thinks he possesses underrated speed.
That score displayed those qualities along with a quick step and an acceleration that allowed him to get past the deeper levels of the defense to put more points on the scoreboard.
“It was to the left — blast left,” Keyes said. “I came through the middle, and I was going to keep it straight, but I (had) seen one of my receivers blocking in, and so I just cut outside and it was wide open.”
Pendleton, a former Michigan State fullback, likes Keyes’ potential in the Big Ten.
“Man, he is shoulder square, physical, but he can crease it and take it to the house,” Pendleton said. “That's his thing. Early on in the recruiting process, I told him since Day 1, I'm like, ‘Man, you're a Big Ten running back.’
“I was fortunate enough to play in the Big Ten. Gap scheme run, shoulder square to the line of scrimmage, running behind his pads, weak shouldering a guy, but he also has top-end speed to crease it, too. I think he is just scratching the surface. I think he's gonna get better and better and better as time goes on.”
Well built
BadgerExtra highlighted earlier this season how Batavia, Illinois, inside linebacker Tyler Jansey already appeared physically ready to contribute at the college level. I’d add Keyes to the same category as his future teammate.
Keyes’ Hudl profile designates him at 6 foot 1 and 210 pounds. MaxPreps reports him as 6 foot, 215 pounds. That looked about right watching him in person last week, and the future Badger stuck out on the field with his size and frame before the first snap took place Friday.
Keyes carries that weight well on both sides of the ball. I already mentioned what he can do running the ball, and that 37-yard touchdown demonstrated his speed even with his stature. The recruit also pursued the ball easily on defense for the few snaps he received on that side of the ball, and he showed his physicality blocking and keeping on a defender toward the Ironton sideline during a punt return.
“I think the most impressive part is just seeing that maturity and what it takes to get to that level,” Pendleton said. “The eating habits, the sleeping habits, the work ethic. … I was a high school football player at one point and played in the Big Ten, and I was nowhere near that in high school.
“He is very disciplined and very meticulous in how he approaches the game and how he approaches his health and his physique and everything.”
Can this be translated to early playing time in the form of special teams, like recent safeties Hunter Wohler and Austin Brown?
Worth noting
Keyes also plays defense, using him at linebacker along with his running back duties. UW prefers Keyes at running back, but his high school coach glowed about him.
“I think you can put him anywhere on the field, and he's gonna find a way,” Pendleton said. “He's physical, not afraid of contact. I think he has Big Ten written all over it.”
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