Ole Miss DB Key Lawrence Ready To Head Hunt In Final College Season

The Ole Miss Rebels are looking to keep pace in 2024, and Key Lawrence will be essential to the secondary's success.

What was new Ole Miss safety Key Lawrence looking for when he decided to leave Oklahoma and enter the transfer portal?

A guaranteed starting job would have been nice.

A chance to better his draft stock would have been better.

No, for the Nashville native, those ideologies weren't requirements for his next location entering his final collegiate season. Being closer to the family, however, was.

"I want my family to be able to see me play my last season," Key said earlier this week. "I also wanted to get back to the Southeastern Conference.”

Before Key became a fixture in the Big 12, he was a rising name in the SEC. Coming out of high school, he committed to Jeremy Pruitt and Tennessee, living up to the 'staying home mantra,' but it took him a year to realize Knoxville wasn't the place for him.

Three years, 149 tackles and three career interceptions later, Lawrence knew he had outgrown Norman. While the Sooners, along with Texas, will join the SEC beginning July, 1, they also will be facing a myriad of questions that could hold them back from reaching the 12-team College Football Playoff.

When Lawrence entered the portal, he began looking at roster construction. Ole Miss, coming off its best finish in program history at 11-2, was building yet another top-five transfer portal class. As for location, Oxford is only a four-hour drive from Nashville compared to the 10-hour drive his parents were making to Norman.

“I saw the players Ole Miss was getting in the portal and who they had coming back, and I said I want to be a part of that team,” Lawrence said. “We’ve got a lot of talent on this team, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Oct 21, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Jonah Laulu (8) celebrates

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

One of three transfer safeties to join the Rebels this offseason, Lawrence will compete for starting reps in Pete Golding's system. So will Yam Banks, a former All-Sun Belt who racked up seven interceptions during his three seasons at South Alabama.

Neither Trey Washington nor John Saunders Jr. should be promised the starting job. Last season, the duo was adequate on the back end, but still allowed more than several explosive plays of 20-plus yards downfield.

Under Pete Golding, the Rebels finished 34th nationally in scoring with 22.1 points per game allowed, more than three than the season prior among an 8-5 record.

Even though it's a competition, Lawrence said he felt welcomed by all when arriving in January.

“I was received with welcoming arms from everyone, so that part has been very easy,” said the senior. “I had to learn different terminology, but it’s been pretty easy because the coaches here have been patient and are good teachers.”

With the Grove Bowl Games around the corner, Lawrence said he wasn't looking to carve out a starting role, but understand the concepts that will be implemented on Saturdays. He also wanted to make sure he felt comfortable with a new supporting cast.

“I was just trying to learn the playbook and get the basics down,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to come in here and be a leader early on. I just want to work hard and set a good example, and maybe some of the guys will gravitate toward me."

Lawrence describes himself as “hungry, dedicated and energetic," traits beloved by defensive coordinators on the last line of defense. What about consistent? Those who are fundamentally sound are usually the ones making plays with the first-team unit.

He also only cares about winning, regardless of how many reps he sees per contest.

"Being the best teammate I can be is what is most important," he said. "That’s my biggest goal.”

Come Week 1, Lawrence will let his play speak for itself. As for Saturday, he's looking to be a humble soldier and do what's asked of him.

Quite literally.

“I will do whatever my coaches tell me to do. Hot dog eating contest or whatever,” said a smiling Lawrence. “I’m all in. I’ve been watching film on the different techniques of hot dog eating – dipping it in water and everything else."