Ramel Keyton, a wide receiver from Tennessee, was given a chance to play at the next level even though he was not chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft over the last three days. The Las Vegas Raiders signed the former four-star prospect, who spent five seasons playing for the Vols, as an undrafted free agent, the team announced on Saturday night. Before the weekend, Keyton was expected to be a priority free agent and was not selected in any of the 257 draft rounds.
Keyton concluded the previous season with 35 catches for 642 yards and six touchdowns, starting all 13 games.
At Tennessee’s Pro Day last month, he measured 6-foot-2 and 191 pounds. He also recorded a 4.47-second 40-yard time with a 33.5-inch
Keyton choose Tennessee over Auburn, Penn State, Ole Miss, Florida, Georgia, Clemson, and other schools following a prep career in which he gained over 3,300 yards and 33 touchdowns. However, as a freshman in 2019, he saw little action as part of a loaded wide receiver room. (At that time, the Vols had redshirting seniors Brandon Johnson and Cedric Tillman, as well as future NFL wideouts Jauan Jennings, Marquez Callaway, and Joshua Palmer). Keyton didn’t do much behind the Jennings-Callaway-Palmer combo, but he did show flashes of brilliance with a 41-yard reception in the victory over Mississippi State and two catches for 60 yards in a start for the suspended Jennings in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
During the pandemic-affected 2020 season, Keyton made three starts; nevertheless, he only caught nine passes for 76 yards and did not participate in Tennessee’s disappointing three-win campaign. In 2021, he only had seven receptions for 72 yards as a reserve.Keyton only managed 20 catches on 39 targets for 252 yards over the course of three seasons.
With Tillman, fresh off a breakout season, and transfer Bru McCoy as its starting wideouts, he entered the 2022 season as a backup. However, Tillman’s ankle injury in the third game of the season put Keyton into the starting lineup, and he performed admirably most of the time. Just before halftime, he made a full-extension diving catch for a 43-yard gain, which was a key component of a game-winning touchdown.
drive in the win against Florida, and he had five catches for 78 yards in the win against Alabama and caught two touchdown passes against UT Martin. Keyton capped the season with four catches for 76 yards and the game-sealing 46-yard touchdown in the Orange Bowl victory against Clemson.
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