To look back at Ty Keyes' journey to where he stands now is a spectacle. During the summer of 2017, Keyes stood, slim and lanky, with then quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Mitch Evans trying to learn all he could before they faced the neighboring county Northeast Jones Tigers. It did not take long to see that the young, wide-eyed freshman would be special. He threw for 301 yards on 14 completions on 20 attempts, including two touchdowns. The Tartars won the game 29-19 with Keyes' only flaw coming on an interception in his 20 attempts.
Keyes took over a county, and some might argue the state in his freshman season, guiding the Tartars to a 15-1 record overall and their first State Championship since 2002. He finished with 4,562 passing yards and 45 passing touchdowns while rushing for 543 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
“My freshman year I had no experience at all. They just told me one day I was going to try out at quarterback, and I was named the starter. We got out there with the receivers trying to get the timing down, things like that,” said Keyes.
There was little to no sophomore slump to be had in 2018 either. With first-year head coach Evans at the helm after being promoted due to Chuck Robertson's departure, Keyes threw for 3,736 yards and 39 touchdowns. He ran for 335 yards along with four touchdowns. However, the season did not end on a high note, as Keyes fractured his ankle in the 2A South State Championship game. Still, Taylorsville defeated Bay Springs, 15-8, to advance to the State Championship. Keyes could only watch on the sidelines as his team fell to Scott Central, 21-7.
“When I got injured in the South State Championship I was mad more than anything else. I felt like I needed to be out there with my team, but I couldn’t. It was heartbreaking,” explained Keyes.
What looked like a tragedy may have been a blessing. Over the summer, Keyes trained harder. He became stronger. Putting muscle-mass on his 6'1" frame, Keyes bounced back with a 3,500-yard passing season, totaling 3,721 yards, 41 touchdowns, along with 400 rushing yards with four touchdowns.
Seemingly every game was the Ty Keyes show during the regular season. Against Heidelberg and the following week against Enterprise, Keyes threw a season-high five touchdown passes. Against Seminary he threw for a season-high 373 yards on 28 attempts, completing 20 passes.
iPhone screensaver for Sports601's Offensive Player of the Year.
In the 2A State Championship, he was held without a passing touchdown; however, he used his legs to score a rushing touchdown. His presence on the field made a difference as the Northside Gators, who had given up a mere 34 total points on the season, was carved up, giving up 49 points in the game.
“I thought we had a good chance this year. It started in the fieldhouse over the summer. We ran and worked a lot, and it showed here today,” said Keyes after the 49-18 victory. “Knowing I didn’t get to play in the state title last season, I came in here with a chip on my shoulder. I felt like I had something to prove to everyone. So, my goal was to bring us back to the state title and win the whole thing. I think I proved my leadership. I felt like some counted us out and didn’t expect us to be here, so I wanted to prove them wrong.”
Keyes also has an understanding of what their second title in three years means to the community.
“This community is great. They always come out and support us. When we saw the crowd out here at the game [the State Championship] we wanted to put on a show and get the job done. I think we did that."
Evans knows how special his quarterback is and discussed that after their final game. “Ty is a special player. The difference shows when we had him in the game this year and when we didn’t have him under center last year. Even when he doesn’t have big numbers he puts us in the right position every play. He makes all the right plays at all the right times. Nothing seems to faze him or rattles him. He just keeps playing. He is a Division-1 quarterback, simply put. That’s what he is.”
“Ty is great. He is the best quarterback in 2A football. He’s probably the best in Mississippi and beyond. Because of how great he is, defenses back up to stop him, which helps us as a team,” said Taylorsville running back Jeffery Pittman.
Keyes capped off the 2019 season holding the trophy as seen on the Sports601 postseason magazine cover. Looking ahead, the limelight will continue to grow as Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and other Power Five teams across the country watch film on Keyes and the Tartars, extending more offers and sending more letters to the Keyes’ home. For right now, Keyes will sit back with his teammates and enjoy their second title in three seasons and third consecutive South State Championship before he makes a run for Player of the Year in 2020.
