Austin Keys interview takeaways: Competition, taking on blocks, DJ Barber, other backers

AUBURN — Auburn football linebacker Austin Keys met the media on Friday as the Tigers inch closer towards their first fall camp scrimmage on Saturday inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Here are the highlights of what Keys said, including playing in the box, other linebackers, his cousin DJ Barber, and the competition at linebacker. He thinks he is transitioning well and the linebacker group is coming together.

“Yes sir, I definitely am, like I said, being compassionate with one another, learning to suffer with one another and understanding the goal we are all trying to get to. Understanding our end game.”

Interview takeaways

Keys had time in the spring to adjust to playing under Auburn linebackers coach Josh Aldridge. He has a lot of respect for Aldridge and knows what Aldridge expects now.

“He’s pretty cool, man. He keeps us going. There’s nothing he wants us not to do. He’s really an eye-opener. He cares about the team, he cares about you as a person. I’d say he’s a pretty cool dude.”

A question was asked about Keys’ time at Ole Miss and the transition to Auburn. Keys gave a brief answer.

“Ole Miss ain’t even in the picture anymore. It’s a new start. Fresh start.”

Keys says he has been in the playbook more during this fall camp. A video went somewhat viral of him taking on Alabama offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor and winning that battle. Now, he says he has gotten even better at that aspect of his game.

“Yes sir, I would say I got better with my hands and definitely vision. Some things I didn’t catch. Studying took me a long way. I’ve gotten in my playbook more so that has helped too. Taking on blocks, everyone loves a linebacker who takes on blocks, loves to be physical. I had to up my game in that.”

Keys has a high opinion of fellow linebacker Cam Riley. He is jealous that Riley is able to do different things as a linebacker due to his length.

“Excellence, excellence, man. Cam is all over the field, he’s long. He gets to do more than me since he’s so long and has a strong base. Expectations are high for Cam.”

A lot has been made of former North Carolina transfer linebacker Eugene Asante during this fall camp. Keys echoed that sentiment and called him a “watchman.”

“A whole bunch of work, man. A whole bunch of work. It is real fun playing beside Eugene man. He keeps a standard, he’s really one we look at as a watchman. He holds everybody accountable and we feed off of Eugene man. Gotta love the dude.”

Keys was Larry Nixon‘s player host when he was being recruited. Nixon, a former North Texas linebacker is still close with Keys.

“Larry, man, I call him big 30. Big dirty 30. Being that we are both transfers, we kind of hit it up. When we both got here, I was kind of his host when he came to visit. Larry is a pretty cool guy. He is very open to learning things. He works hard on the field.”

When asked which newcomers are standing out, Keys only had one name to provide.

“Colton Hood, he’s really standing out. Newcomers, as far as fall camp, it is Colton Hood. I kind of talked about him today. He made a tough play on the wide receiver and it was like, wow.. He’s going to be something. His play on the ball, he asks questions in meetings, he is on top of it. You can see the motor he has. He’s playing boundary corner.”

Keys has been seen on Twitter and around the football complex during big recruiting weekends. He seems to take pride in helping recruit for Auburn. For him, it is a chance to make relationships, help Auburn, and help recruits make the tough decisions on their own.

“It’s a lot deeper than just recruiting. It is a lot bigger than football, it is something I didn’t have growing up. Everybody wasn’t always there for me and pointing me in the right direction. So, I just wanted to be someone else’ light. Make sure they make their own decision. Just not off of someone else.”

“Man, I love recruiting. I’m a player, but I love recruiting. Recruiting is big like Freeze said. He always says recruiting is big. Just recruiting a player, then seeing how he endures fall and spring camps. It’s a passion, it is exciting.”

For those who do not know, Keys is cousins with Auburn 2024 linebacker commit D’Angelo DJ Barber.

“Man I love the little dude. He calls me every time just to see what’s new. He wants me to fill him in on the defense. He’s ready man. I’m happy I got to shine my light on him as well. He’s a little short, so he’s speedy all over the field, but he has a lot of stock to him. When he gets to college, everybody has to fill into their frame. I can’t wait to see what he has in store.”

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