ASU’s Keith Abney II has become 1 of college football’s best cover corners

TEMPE — Intelligence along with added weight and physicality have Arizona State’s Keith Abney II playing like one of the nation’s best cornerbacks.

Only LSU’s Mansoor Delane has a higher coverage grade among Power Four cornerbacks with at least 100 coverage snaps, per PFF. Abney has logged 157 snaps, which is 33 more than Delane and the third most in Power Four.

He played a massive role in ASU’s win at Baylor, coming up with a clutch interception that gave ASU the possession advantage to end with its walk-off field goal. It came just a quarter and a half after he was called for a tough pass interference.

“He was pissed ’cause he thought he was in good position,” coach Kenny Dillingham said.

keith abney ii came up huge for asu at baylor, bouncing back from a pass interference call that dc brian ward said today was "a little bit questionable."

"he's pretty sticky in that coverage. he comes back, he gets a pick the following quarter," ward said.

both plays: pic.twitter.com/TA3rQHXqKI

— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) September 24, 2025

Abney is the only Sun Devil defensive back with an interception through four games, and he paces the team with four passes defensed as well. Last year, he tied for the team lead in interceptions (three) while leading in passes defensed (nine).

Abney’s stellar play will confirm 2026 NFL Draft projections that started to highlight him before the season, including ESPN’s Jordan Reid calling him a potential Day 2 pick thanks to consistency in man coverage or ESPN’s Matt Miller saying he “can flat-out play” and is “a name to know” for the draft.

“He’s one of those dudes who gets better every single game. He learns, he puts it in the bank and he applies it,” Dillingham said of Abney’s growth. “Super intelligent. He’s the definition of (ASU’s) Barrett Honors. Like, kid’s going to play for a long time, and then he’s going to be even more successful in the real world.”

His cerebral approach to the game resulted in his biggest strides from freshman to sophomore seasons coming in route recognition, he told Arizona Sports. It shows up on plays like his interception.

His biggest improvement from his sophomore year to now as a junior?

“I would definitely say just the physical standpoint,” Abney said. “Like just adding some extra pounds, you know, so the receivers can’t just push me around. Last year, I feel like I was kind of light but now I got some solid pounds on me.

“Also just having the mindset of just shutting the receiver down or shutting your side of the field down.”

Once listed a 5-foot-10, 180-pound freshman, Abney is now listed at 6-foot and 190 pounds. It could prove vital on Friday against TCU.

Keith Abney II could face tall task if matched up against TCU WR Eric McAlister

Abney isn’t any sort of stranger to tough matchups. After all, he faces Jordyn Tyson in every practice, an example of him taking on the most difficult assignment.

But even Tyson can’t provide exactly the model for what Abney may face on Friday in TCU wide receiver Eric McAlister, a Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after he racked up 254 yards and three touchdowns on eight catches against SMU.

McAlister turned in several explosive plays where he was doing most of the work with yards after the catch, even at his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame.

After SMU took a three-point lead with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter, TCU quarterback Josh Hoover found McAlister three more times for 144 yards and two touchdowns to take the lead back and ice the game.

Whether it’s just Abney on McAlister or a group effort, it will give ASU another crack at proving it’s past the explosive play issues from the Mississippi State loss. Explosives were virtually absent against Texas State, but they returned in the fourth quarter against Baylor.

Catch ASU-TCU on Friday at 6 p.m. MST on the Arizona Sports app, ESPN 620 AM or 98.7 FM HD-2. It will be televised on FOX.

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