Keith Abney II is a 5’10 187-pound CB prospect from Arizona State University. The 21 year old, played his high school football at Waxahachie High School in Waxahachie, TX. Abney has a track background in high school as well as roller skating in his youth. A 3-star prospect in the 2023 class, Abney committed to Utah State before decommitting and committing later to Arizona State. Part of the reason he decommitted is because he wanted the opportunity to play for Kenny Dillingham. Abney would play at Arizona State for 3 seasons. Abney broke out his sophomore season at Arizona State, before following up with an even better junior season. His stats at Arizona State consist of 2024: 52 TOT, 9 PD, 3 INT 2025: 44 TOT, 12 PD, 1 SACK, 2 FF, 2 INT
Abney II is slightly undersized for an outside corner, but has fast speed and acceleration. He has good closing speed, but he can struggle vs bigger WRs. He can be described as a well rounded athlete. Abney II is a player who excels mentally understanding coverage and reading the QB’s eyes. He stays in structure when in coverage and doesn’t freelance. He understands whether a run or pass is happening pre snap and can force WRs to take angles that are uncomfortable. He doesn’t bait QB’s into a lot of mistakes, but still got his hands on the football quite often. When in zone, has decent break ability and when he gets a clean read, he can drive downhill. He doesn’t have much twitchiness that some elite DB’s have, but he can close on throwing windows and arrive earlier than expected. In route matches, he’s a coach’s favorite player because he stays in scheme and doesn’t wander out of position. He does struggle with advanced concepts, and more complex route combinations can rattle him. In man coverage, Abney II isn’t his strength, but he can manage. He stays in phase against bigger and smaller WRs not getting overly beat, but against overly fast WRs he struggles with hip positioning. He loses some fluidity. Routes with sharp cuts he struggled to recover. He showed some route squeeze physicality in situations quite often by crowding WRs and forcing tight throwing windows. Abney’s ball skills are pretty good, getting pass deflecting often and was valuable at the catch point for a DB. For a DB, his punch and force fumble ability were a strong suit for him, showing his physicality, willingness to hit and he got an occasional turnover through contact. His hip fluidity was just ok as his change of direction is average and he had questionable recovery positioning. His transitions were not smooth and as a result of that could lose a step. A strong part of Abney’s game was his run defense and tackling ability. The aggression is there, and he played with a physical edge. He showed more consistency than most, netting ball carriers with aggressive style and can fill a lane if needed.
Overall, when evaluating Abney II you’re getting a strong zone coverage DB with potential safety upside if in the right situation. He closes windows better than most and route matches and stays in line with the defensive scheme. He’s a smart player that is seemingly getting better and better with every opportunity he gets.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit:
Teams that need a DB that can route match and play well in zone would be a good fit. Teams like the LA Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions would be good fits because of need or zone centered defense.
NFL Player Comp: Asante Samuel Jr.
This is the comparison because they are both strong zone corners that have versatility, structure and physicality. Both have strong ball hawking ability and get hands on the football.
Projection: League Average Starter
It’s not logical to think that as a rookie Abney would start immediately, but he certainly can. Overall, a few years in the league and he definitely starts for a team in a zone centered scheme.
Grade and Round Projection: 4.57, Day 2 Pick
Abney II graded out at a 4.57 (adjusted from 4.54) and he will most likely get selected between the 2nd and 3rd rounds. A team that has a developmental, but capable starter role would be a nice fit.
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