FOXBOROUGH – Virginia Tech tight end Dalton Keene was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft (101st overall selection). After trading TE Rob Gronkowski to Tampa Bay, New England is seeking a versatile tight end for its offense and found one in Keene. The Patriots traded up to obtain the Tech tight end, making Keene the highest draft selection of any tight end in school history.
A second tight end on the second night of #PatsDraft.#Patriots select @DaltonKeene18 with the 101st overall pick. pic.twitter.com/EAJlh9YEqp
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 25, 2020
Keene played in 36 career games for Tech, hauling in 59 passes for 748 yards (12.7 avg.) with eight touchdowns. The versatile Littleton, Colorado native tied for fourth on Tech in 2019 with 21 receptions and was second on the squad with five receiving touchdowns. In addition to 240 receiving yards, he also carried the ball 11 times for 33 yards during his junior campaign. He was also selected to the 2019 ACC All-Academic Team.
Amazing! Congratulations!
— Justin Fuente (@CoachFuente) April 25, 2020
Can't say enough great things about @DaltonKeene18 pic.twitter.com/rJn8kdwkSO
Keene made numerous memorable plays during his tenure at Tech. The longest play of his collegiate career came on a short pass in a 31-14 win at Duke (9/29/18) that resulted in a 67-yard TD catch that included several broken tackles and stiff arms. His one-yard TD catch provided the winning margin in a dramatic 22-19 comeback win at North Carolina (10/13/18), as the Hokies' orchestrated a dramatic 18-play, 98-yard drive to get the win. Keene also played a pivotal role in a 34-31 OT win vs. Virginia (11/23/18). With Tech trailing 31-24 and only 2:29 remaining in regulation, he hauled in a 45-yard heave from QB Ryan Willis on third-and-10 from Tech's own 25 to propel the Hokies on the game-tying drive.