Mikey Keene
{{Short description|American football player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox college football player
|name=Mikey Keene
|image=2021UCFKnights-MikeyKeene.jpg|caption=Keene with the UCF Knights in 2021
|school= Michigan Wolverines
|currentnumber= 10
|currentposition=Quarterback
|class= Senior
|major=Business Management
|birth_date=
|birth_place=
|heightft=5
|heightin=11
|weight_lb=200
|highschool=Chandler (Chandler, Arizona)
|bowlgames=
- 2021 Gasparilla Bowl
- 2023 New Mexico Bowl (Off. MVP){{cite tweet |user=AngMartinezTV |number=1736205626169065749 |title=Fresno State beats New Mexico State 37-10 to win the New Mexico Bowl. |date=December 16, 2023 |accessdate=December 16, 2023}}
|pastschools=
- UCF (2021–2022)
- Fresno State (2023–2024)
- Michigan (2025–present)
|highlights =
|espn=4597499
}}
Mikey Keene is an American college football quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines. He previously played for the UCF Knights and the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Early life
Keene attended Chandler High School in Chandler, Arizona.{{Cite web |last=Alvira |first=Zach |date=October 21, 2019 |title=Mikey Keene taking control of Chandler High's offense |url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/mikey-keene-taking-control-of-chandler-high-s-offense/article_f8816234-f432-11e9-8779-0b46abbcc9a4.html |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=East Valley Tribune |language=en}} In his junior season, he recorded 193 completions for 2,835 yards and 23 touchdowns, winning a state championship in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Obert |first=Richard |title=Chandler QB Mikey Keene has built football legacy in Arizona with unbeaten streak |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/11/19/chandler-qb-mikey-keene-leaving-legacy-arizona-high-school-football/3766198001/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}} In his senior season, he completed 154 passes for 2,069 yards and 22 touchdowns, winning a second straight state championship as the starting quarterback at Chandler. It was Chandler’s fifth consecutive as a program.{{Cite web |last=Alam |first=Adnan |date=September 15, 2023 |title=Fresno State's Mikey Keene returns to Arizona for test vs. Arizona State football |url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2023/09/15/fresno-state-mikey-keene-returns-arizona-state-football/ |access-date=September 24, 2023 |website=Cronkite News |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/12/12/arizona-interscholastic-association-high-school-football/6480526001/|title=Saguaro's clutch plays end Chandler's 5-year state championship reign in Open final|website=AZ Central}} As a three-star recruit, Keene committed to play college football at the University of Central Florida (UCF).{{Cite web |last=Obert |first=Richard |title=Chandler quarterback Mikey Keene commits to Central Florida football |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/09/04/chandler-quarterback-mikey-keene-commits-central-florida/5719553002/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}
College career
=UCF=
In 2021, Keene enrolled at the University of Central Florida and was the UCF Knights backup to Dillon Gabriel. After an injury to Gabriel, Keene became the starter as a true freshman.{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2021 |title=With Dillon Gabriel out, UCF turns to true freshman Mikey Keene at quarterback |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2021/09/19/with-dillon-gabriel-out-ucf-turns-to-true-freshman-mikey-keene-at-quarterback/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Keene, Central Florida take on Florida in Gasparilla Bowl |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2021/12/22/keene-central-florida-take-on-florida-in-gasparilla-bowl/49561227/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} He made ten starts, totaling 1,730 yards and 18 total touchdowns.{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2022 |title=Zone Read: Mikey Keene Unplugged |url=https://sports360az.com/2022/05/zone-read-mikey-keene-unplugged/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |language=en-US}} Keene threw for 144 yards and one touchdown in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl, leading UCF to a 29–17 over Florida.{{Cite web |date=December 27, 2021 |title=UCF QB Mikey Keene plans on watching film, putting on weight to improve |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2021/12/27/ucf-qb-mikey-keene-plans-on-watching-film-putting-on-weight-to-improve/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}} In 2022, Keene was the Knights backup to John Rhys Plumlee, where he would only appear in four games. He finished the season with 647 yards and six touchdowns, before entering the NCAA transfer portal.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Chris |title=Mikey Keene announces plans to enter transfer portal, leave UCF after 2 seasons |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/college/football/2022/12/04/ucf-knights-football-mikey-keene-announces-plans-enter-ncaa-transfer-portal/10834200002/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=Daytona Beach News-Journal Online |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2022 |title=UCF QB Mikey Keene to transfer: "Thank you, Knight Nation" |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2022/12/04/ucf-qb-mikey-keene-to-transfer-thank-you-knight-nation/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}
=Fresno State=
On December 21, 2022, Keene announced his decision to transfer to Fresno State.{{Cite web |title=Here's how transfer portal quarterback joined Fresno State. 'We found the right guy.' |url=https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/college/mountain-west/fresno-state/bulldogs-football/article270301542.html |website=The Fresno Bee}} In 2023, he entered the season as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback.{{Cite web |title=Mikey Keene named starting quarterback for Fresno State ahead of season opener |url=https://www.msn.com/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=ABC 30 Fresno}} In the season opener against Purdue, Keene threw for four touchdowns and 366 yards, leading Fresno State to a 39–35 victory.{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2023 |title=Mikey Keene celebrates Fresno State debut with 4 TD passes in 39-35 win over Purdue |url=https://abc30.com/sports/mikey-keene-celebrates-fresno-state-debut-with-4-td-passes-in-39-35/13729586/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=ABC30 Fresno |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Bulldogs alums Derek Carr, Jake Haener react to Fresno State's big win over Purdue of Big 10 |url=https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/college/mountain-west/fresno-state/bulldogs-football/article278907094.html |website=The Fresno Bee}} Against Arizona State, Keene threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, leading Fresno State to a 29–0 shutout win.{{Cite web |last=Brandt |first=David |title=Keene throws 2 TDs, Fresno State forces 8 turnovers in 29-0 win over Arizona State |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/sep/17/mikey-keene-throws-2-tds-fresno-state-forces-8-tur/ |access-date=September 18, 2023 |website=The Washington Times |language=en-US}} Keene led Fresno State to a 9–4 record and a 37–10 victory in the 2023 New Mexico Bowl. In the New Mexico Bowl, he threw for a career-high 380 yards and recorded four total touchdowns, being named the game's offensive MVP.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-17 |title=Mikey Keene throws for 380 yards, leads Fresno State past New Mexico State 37-10 in New Mexico Bowl |url=https://apnews.com/article/fresno-state-new-mexico-state-bowl-af76bb08ed49918ff6e1057c7e6e853f |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Mikey Keene, Fresno St. crush New Mexico St. |url=https://fieldlevelmedia.com/ncaaf/mikey-keene-fresno-st-crush-new-mexico-st/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Field Level Media |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Fresno State sharp on both sides of ball in New Mexico Bowl win over New Mexico State |url=https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/college/nmsu/2023/12/16/fresno-state-dominant-in-bowl-victory-over-new-mexico-state/71943982007/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Las Cruces Sun-News |language=en-US}} Keene finished the season throwing for 2,976 yards and 24 touchdowns.
In 2024, Keene opened the season playing his future team the next year, the Michigan Wolverines. He completed 22 of 36 passes for 238 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions (including a pick-six by Will Johnson).{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401628452|title=No. 9 Michigan begins defense of national title with 30-10 win over Fresno State|website=ESPN}} In total for the season, he threw for 2,892 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Following the season, he entered the transfer portal for a second time in his career.{{Cite web |last=Gligich |first=Daniel |date=2024-12-03 |title=Mikey Keene to enter transfer portal |url=https://sjvsun.com/sports/mikey-keene-to-enter-transfer-portal/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=The San Joaquin Valley Sun |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Fresno State QB Mikey Keene enters Transfer Portal |url=https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/bulldog-sports/fresno-state-qb-mikey-keene-enters-transfer-portal/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=CBS47 and KSEE24 |language=en-US}}
=Michigan=
On December 23, 2024, Keene transferred to the University of Michigan for his fifth and final season of college football in 2025, playing under head coach Sherrone Moore.{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2024/12/23/mikey-keene-michigan-football-fresno-state-transfer/77177178007/|title=Michigan football lands Fresno State transfer quarterback Mikey Keene|work=Detroit Free Press|date=December 23, 2024|last=Birkle|first=Andrew}} He reunited with Michigan’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Lindsey, both at UCF in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-lands-commitment-from-fresno-state-quarterback-mikey-keene-transfer-portal|title=BREAKING: Michigan Football lands transfer portal quarterback with ties to Chip Lindsey|website=Sports Illustrated|date=December 23, 2024|last=Knoop|first=Trent}} Keene will compete with sophomore Jadyn Davis and the nation’s No. 1 overall ranked high school recruit, incoming freshman Bryce Underwood.{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2024/12/23/michigan-wolverines-football-lands-transfer-quarterback-mikey-keene/77177410007/|title=Michigan football lands transfer quarterback Mikey Keene|work=The Detroit News|date=December 23, 2024|last=Chengelis|first=Angelique}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="5"| Rushing | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | Avg | TD | Int | Rate | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | |
| colspan="16" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UCF Knights|color=white}}" |UCF | |||||||||||||||
| 2021
| 11 || 10 || 7–3 || 173 || 272 || 63.6 || 1,730 || 6.4 || 17 || 6 || 133.2 || 35 || -36 || -1.0 || 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2022
| 4 || 1 || 1–0 || 60 || 83 || 72.3 || 647 || 7.8 || 6 || 1 || 159.2 || 13 || -13 || -1.0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="16" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Fresno State Bulldogs|color=white}}" |Fresno State | |||||||||||||||
| 2023
| 12|| 11|| 8–3|| 283|| 422|| 67.1 || 2,976|| 7.1 || 24|| 10|| 140.3 || 29 || -136 || -4.7 || 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2024
| 12|| 12|| 6–6|| 277|| 393|| 70.5 || 2,892|| 7.4 || 18|| 11|| 141.8 || 47 || -194 || -4.1 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="16" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan Wolverines}}" |Michigan | |||||||||||||||
| 2025
| 0 || 0 || 0–0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Career{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mikey-keene-1.html|title=Mikey Keene College Stats|website=Sports-Reference.com|access-date=September 3, 2023}} | 39 | 34 | 22−12 | 793 | 1,170 | 67.8 | 8,245 | 7.0 | 65 | 28 | 140.5 | 124 | -379 | -3.1 | 2 |
References
External links
- [https://gobulldogs.com/sports/football/roster/mikey-keene/14209 Fresno State Bulldogs bio]
- [https://ucfknights.com/sports/football/roster/season/2021/player/mikey-keene UCF Knights bio]
{{Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback navbox}}{{UCF Knights quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keene, Mikey}}
Category:UCF Knights football players
Category:Fresno State Bulldogs football players
Category:American football quarterbacks