Jennings attended Summerville High School, where he was a high school All-American and an All-State wide receiver, while helping his team win three division AAAA state championships. He posted 85 receptions for 1,760 yards (20.7 avg.) and 17 touchdowns in his final two seasons.
He also was an All-state first baseman, contributing to the school winning two baseball state titles.
He became a starter as a junior and was considered at the time the biggest wide receiver in school history. Playing in run-oriented offenses, he excelled at blocking, after the game against the University of Maryland head coach Danny Ford said "Keith is the best blocking wide receiver I've ever seen". He was second on the team with 31 receptions and 475 receiving yards. His best regular season game came against North Carolina State University, when he had 6 receptions for 84 yards. In the 1988 Florida Citrus Bowl, he posted 7 receptions for a school-bowl record 110 yards against Penn State University. The 7 receptions were the most by a Tiger player since 1981.
As a senior, he led the team with 30 receptions and 397 receiving yards, while also collecting one receiving touchdown. He helped the Tigers win a third straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
He finished his career with 78 receptions (eighth in school history) for 1,117 yards (ninth in school history) and 2 touchdowns. During his time in college, his teams had a 34-12-2 record and appeared in 4 bowl games.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Jennings was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (113th overall) of the 1989 NFL draft,[1] with the intention of converting him into a tight end, even though he didn't have any previous experience at that position. He was released on September 4 and signed to the team's practice squad.[2]
He was promoted to the active roster before the seventh game and went on to appear in 10 games. He played mainly on special teams and as a second tight end in short yardage situations. Against the Green Bay Packers he had 4 receptions for 37 yards. He was waived injured on September 2, 1990.[3]
He was released on August 28, 1994. On October 24, he was re-signed after starter Chris Gedney was lost for the season.[8]
In 1995, he recorded the most touchdowns by a Bears tight end (6) since Mike Ditka's finished with 8 in 1963. The following season, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a broken left leg, after the sixth game of the season. He was waived injured on December 10, 1997.[9]
On January 9, 2001, he was signed by the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL. He served as a third-string tight end behind Rickey Brady and didn't record any stat.[12] The league ceased operations in May 2001.[13]
Post-playing career
In 2017, Jennings was an undergraduate tight ends coach under Dabo Swinney at Clemson University. In 2017, he served as a scouting intern with the Buffalo Bills during training camp and preseason under the NFL Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship. On June 11, 2018, he was hired as the Buffalo BillsBLESTO college scout.[14] On May 17, 2024, Jennings was promoted to the role of area scout.In 2017, Jennings was an undergraduate tight ends coach under Dabo Swinney at Clemson University. In 2017, he served as a scouting intern with the Buffalo Bills during training camp and preseason under the NFL Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship. On June 11, 2018, he was hired as the Buffalo BillsBLESTO college scout.[15] On May 17, 2024, Jennings was promoted to the role of area scout.In 2017, Jennings was an undergraduate tight ends coach under Dabo Swinney at Clemson University. In 2017, he served as a scouting intern with the Buffalo Bills during training camp and preseason under the NFL Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship. On June 11, 2018, he was hired as the Buffalo BillsBLESTO college scout.[16] On May 17, 2024, Jennings was promoted to the role of area scout.[17]