Keys Finding Success On and Off the Field

2018 McDonogh 35 (La.) receiver Lawrence Keys III told Irish Sports Daily last week that a trip to Notre Dame for an official visit was likely this fall. Minutes after the article was published, LaTanya Manning, sent a message saying ‘My son and I will be visiting Notre Dame.’
 
Good news for Irish fans, right?
 
However, it’s more than just a visit and Keys is much more than just a good football player. The four-star prospect might have racked up 975 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns in 2016, but his production in the classroom could very well top his football stats.
 
“He made the National Honor Society and at McDonogh 35, Lawrence has made the Gold Honor Roll too,” Manning told Irish Sports Daily. “He naturally gravitated toward his academics, but I'm an educator who works in the New Orleans school system.”
 
The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder might have embraced academics by himself, but Manning was definitely there to push him.   
 
“I am kind of like a drill sergeant,” laughed Manning. “I was like this with my two adult kids and I’m like that with my two school-age kids. I do stress academics even though I am in love football. The education is important because that’s going to travel with you for the long haul. When football is over, you have to rely on education to be successful.”
 
Manning is also extremely happy to see the type of person Keys has become on a day-to-day basis.
 
“Lawrence is a very humble and sweet individual,” Manning stated. “He’ll give you the shirt off his back. I have never had any behavior problems or issue with him at home or at school.”  
 
Keys wasn’t always on the road to football stardom and even quit the sport a young age, so sometimes, Manning can’t believe what she sees on Friday nights.
 
“He played football for a recreational program and at 13-years old, Lawrence got timid,” explained Manning. “Everyone was rough and he decided he didn’t want to do that anymore. On his own free will, he decided he wanted to go back. I told him he could go back.
 
“I didn’t know he was that good until he got to high school and I was like ‘Is my son this good?’ I had to pinch myself a couple of times. I asked him what he was thinking on the field and he told me ‘Mom, I just run my routes and the ball comes to me.’”
 
The McDonogh 35 star has over 30 offers and many of them came early. Manning wasn’t sure the recruiting process was really happening and the attention even surprised Keys.  
 
“He been humble and cool with it all,” said Manning. “During his 10th-grade year, he got most of his offers. I was like, ‘Oh my God. Are they supposed to be sending this to my son?’ It was my first time experiencing something like that and someone told me offers sometimes come in eighth grade. It took me by surprise.
 
“Lawrence said he knew he was going to get some offers, but wasn’t ready to get all the offers he received.”
 
Being from New Orleans and holding an offer from LSU, many feel he is a lock to head to Baton Rouge for his next four years. Keys has said he wants to see what other programs have to offer and Manning echoes the statement.  
 
“I think he’s trying to broaden his horizons,” Manning said. “When he got the LSU offer, even when he got the Notre Dame offer, I was like ‘Oh my God. Notre Dame? They actually saw him?’
 
“I really didn’t think LSU was the biggest offer when I started seeing Notre Dame, Florida, Michigan, Miami, and I didn’t really believe they had offered him. Lawrence told me, yes, and it’s all totally up to him.”
 
Keys plans to decide on Signing Day in February, giving him plenty of time to do some extensive research with his mother.  
 
“He and I are going to make the decision, but we are going to see what the best fit is for him,” explained Manning. “Lawrence likes teams that run the spread offense and we’re looking to see if the school offers the majors he wants, which is Sports Medicine and Business. We are looking at the depth chart to see how many guys would be ahead of him.
 
“We are going to look at how many people graduate from the program too. We have our work cut out for us.”
 
Whether it’s in the classroom or giving his shirt off his back to someone, Keys makes his mother proud every day, but there’s no secret that when he’s on the football field, magic follows him.
 
“I am extremely proud of him,” said Manning. “He is handling everything the right way. I am proud of him academically and for the things he has done on the field. It’s almost like this child has some type of supernatural powers when he gets on the field. It’s electrifying and thrilling just watching him play.
 
“He’s done everything I have asked of him. He’s an obedient child and I am really happy with Lawrence.”