Going into his senior year of high school, Malcolm Key decided to give football a try.
Jacksonville State University sure is glad he did. The Gamecocks believe the 6-foot-8, 360-pound lineman could have massive upside.
Key, a student at Ivy Academy, made history for Sale Creek by becoming the first Panthers football player in program history to sign a college scholarship for that sport. Key committed and signed during the early period in December, but he celebrated during a ceremony with friends and family at Sale Creek on Wednesday, the traditional national signing day for college football.
“As soon as I started playing this past year, I knew I wanted to play college football,” Key said. “Even when it didn’t seem like it would be possible, I believed in myself that I could do it. You just have to keep on keeping on. I feel like when you work hard, an opportunity will arise.”
Key learned the sport quickly enough to become a standout noseguard and right tackle for the Panthers, whose four wins this past season are a program best. He also made the tackle for a safety in a first-round playoff game against Clay County.