Keith Abney II, a cornerback prospect from Arizona State, is preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft after building his athletic foundation through roller skating. Abney began skating at age five when his grandmother, who ran a daycare, would take children on field trips to a local roller rink each Thursday. Initially motivated by racing other kids for candy, he soon caught the attention of the rink owner due to his speed.
From ages five to fifteen, before the Covid pandemic, Abney competed in roller skating events across the country and achieved notable success in his age group. “I was winning races, setting records, all across the country,” he said. “It was pretty cool.”
Abney explained that skills gained from speed skating—such as endurance, core strength, stability, and ankle strength—helped him transition into football. “Definitely a lot of things translate,” Abney said Thursday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 190 pounds, Abney is considered among the top 10 to 15 cornerbacks in this draft class and could be selected in the second round. He described himself as an aggressive player but acknowledged he will need to adjust his playing style for professional football.
Although he no longer skates competitively while focusing on his NFL career goals, Abney reflected on those earlier days: “I wish,” Abney said about still skating. “I haven’t put on skates in a minute.”
The Arizona Cardinals are based in Glendale and serve the greater Phoenix area. They play their home games locally and are part of the NFC West division (official website). The franchise is recognized as the oldest continuously operating professional football team in the United States (official website). In 2008, they captured an NFC championship (official website).
Darren Urban/Arizona Cardinals