Jaguar Highlights: Enters preseason camp as the backup running back, and could also help in the return game ... Recorded three catches for a team-high 52 yards to help the Blue team win the annual spring game, 17-10 ... Gained 25 yards on the ground in the second scrimmage of the spring.
As A Freshman (2011): Played in seven contests with two starts ... Ranked third on the squad with 142 rushing yards on 37 carries, ending up with 329 all-purpose yards to finish fifth on the team in the category ... Averaged 33 yards per kick return and 11 per punt return ... Recorded a career-high 170 all-purpose yards in Mississippi Valley State victory, highlighted by a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half ... Also set up USA touchdowns with a 45-yard punt return and a 25-yard carry, as he would post a team- and career-best 48 yards on eight rushes ... Collected 98 all-purpose yards in season finale against Cal Poly with four carries for 33 yards and four kickoff returns for another 65 ... Had career-high 12 rushing attempts in first career start as Jaguars defeated Henderson (Ark.) State ... Carried three times for 15 yards in collegiate debut against Lamar.
High School Highlights: Lettered all four years, starting the final three, at Florida Air Academy ... A three-star recruit, ranking 38th among all running backs in the country and the top 10 in Florida according to ESPN.com ... Earned two stars from Scout.com as well ... Rushed for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns, and threw for 500 yards and three scores his senior season to earn all-area honors ... Was selected the Class 1B area player of the year ... As a junior, was named second-team all-state and first-team all-area after gaining 1,817 yards and scoring 23 TDs while helping the Falcons advance to the quarterfinals of the state 1B playoffs ... As a sophomore, ran for 732 yards, caught passes for 400 yards and recorded 300 more yards in kickoff returns, posting a total of 12 touchdowns ... Lettered twice in basketball and twice in baseball for the Falcons as well.
Personal: Full name is Jeffrey Jason Keels ... Born Nov. 20, 1991, in Dayton, Ohio ... Son of Woodrow and Mariko Keels ... Is the oldest of four boys ... Favorite movie is “The Hangover” ... Favorite book is “Meat Market” ... Favorite teams are the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Heat ... Favorite athletes are Reggie Bush and Derrick Rose ... Favorite musical artists are Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, Drake and Wiz Khalifa ... Favorite foods are pizza, ribs, burgers, eel and sushi ... Favorite subject is public speaking ... Likes to cook in his free time ... Originally committed to Vanderbilt, also had offers from West Virginia, Texas Tech, South Florida, Maryland, Cincinnati, Duke, Memphis and Florida International ... Major is business administration.
