Belief Tells a Powerful Story for Harrison Keith

Belief is a powerful word.

It's one word, but can tell a story.

Just take Harrison Keith, rising senior of the Dartmouth football team, who brought up that word when asked what allowed him to jump onto the scene this past season.

"Most people go through it where you're at the bottom of the totem pole and you're questioning whether you're going to succeed," said Keith. "But as you get older, if you just lean on your belief and your faith and have confidence in yourself, it really goes a long way."

Keith came into the 2025 season believing in himself, which led him to Honorable Mention AP All-America distinction after tying for the Ivy League lead with four interceptions.

"I came into this year knowing that I belonged and I could make plays," he said. "That made me successful as a player, and it's something that's made this team successful the past few years."

In many ways, it shouldn't have been a surprise to see Keith's emergence.

"Sophomore year as a young guy, I was out there playing special teams and then was able to get some significant playing time towards the end of the year," he said. "Nothing's guaranteed from one year to the next, but I finished off sophomore year pretty strong."

It didn't take long for the confidence to blossom in 2025, as he made an incredible diving interception in the season-opening win over New Hampshire.

"I've always prided myself in my ball skills," said Keith. "Some of my [four] interceptions, I was just in the right place at the right time, but UNH and Princeton, I saw the balls were overthrown and made the diving plays.

"UNH was the first game when I really felt confident and had fully gotten over the hump," Keith continued. "Reflecting on that game, I thought not only do I belong here, but I can also excel."

Excel Keith certainly did. His other interceptions came at Penn (on the game's first play from scrimmage), at Harvard and against Princeton.

🚨One-handed interception alert🚨

What a pick by Harrison Keith‼️

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— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) November 8, 2025

"Trust from coaches and teammates helped develop his confidence out there, knowing he needs to be a playmaker," said Sammy McCorkle, Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach. "Not just be one of 11 out there, but also going out there each week expecting to make plays."

Keith didn't only make plays with his physical ability, but also his mental skills.

"Playing safety, you're like the quarterback of the back end of the defense," said Keith. "You're making a lot of calls, especially when the offense is motioning a lot or playing up tempo."

Keith was grateful for the mentorship he had around him.

Harrison Keith and Sean Williams — Harrison Keith with fellow safety Sean Williams

"I was really fortunate to have some really good mentors in the senior class in the DB room in Sean Williams, Tyson Grimm, Patrick Campbell and Jamal Cooper… guys who had played a lot of football," said Keith. "Watching them my first and second years here, I learned a lot."

Keith has a high football IQ in getting the defense aligned and knowing the checks that need to be made.

"Just being in the right place at the right time," he said. "I was able to make some plays physically, but I think what allowed me to succeed was definitely my IQ, which comes from spending a lot of time in the film room."

First play from scrimmage today, a Harrison Keith INT!

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Last spring, Keith found himself in another film room as he joined the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team where he was a key contributor at short-stick defensive midfield.

Seeing some of Keith's interceptions this past fall, it's no surprise he is an athletic multi-sport athlete.

"Throughout high school, I played football and lacrosse, but the end of my sophomore year, I decided I wanted to pursue football in college," he said. "So I stopped playing summer lacrosse, which is the path you take to get recruited, and focused on football training and going to prospect camps."

The summer going into Keith's junior year, he came up to Dartmouth football prospect camp, did well and was able to get his first offer.

As he said, things "took off from there" as Keith committed to Dartmouth for football.

Throughout the recruiting process, head coach at the time Buddy Teevens knew Keith was still interested in lacrosse. Teevens played football and hockey as a student-athlete at Dartmouth.

"Those conversations came up during the recruiting process," said Keith. "We always talked about the possibility of playing lacrosse here too, and he was always in full support of two-sport athletes."

The chance of Keith playing lacrosse remained, even after McCorkle took over as Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach.

"I knew that that was something I would probably want to pursue at some point in my college career," said Keith.

Harrison Keith and Patrick Cambell — Harrison Keith with Patrick Campbell

Keith played in all 13 of men's lacrosse's games last spring, tallying 14 groundballs and six caused turnovers. His first-career goal was the game-winner against Bucknell in the season opener.

It's a season Keith will never forget, but very recently, Keith decided to step away from lacrosse.

"Playing football takes a toll on your body and although I love football and lacrosse, I did make the original commitment to play football here, and I'm hoping to continue to play football after Dartmouth," said Keith.

"But it was a tough decision."

Keith has his eyes set on next fall, his senior season, in which he will be a key returning leader on a team with high expectations. Keith already has two Ivy League Championships with the football team and is hoping to add one more.

"We're returning a lot of core guys," said Keith. "It's always good to return a quarterback (Grayson Saunier) who has proven himself and has great experience. Next year, especially with the playoffs and the way FCS football is changing, we have really high expectations both in the league and to compete for a national championship.

"The stakes are that much higher," Keith continued. "And stepping into senior year, I want to go all-in on football to have the most success we can."

Keith is a key part of the equation, as he enters his senior season with a strong belief and confidence.

"That's where the confidence and expectation of 'I can be a good football player' has continued into the offseason," said McCorkle. "He has raised his expectations and is going to do what he needs to reach those goals."

This comes in a number of forms — on the field, off the field, in the weight room, in the film room and more.
Harrison Keith

"Harrison is a very savvy, savvy football player," said McCorkle. "He's always a step ahead and has a really good understanding what we're trying to do schematically and what we're doing defensively."

McCorkle used the word aggressive when describing Keith.

"When I say aggressive, yeah, good tackler and all that, but much more confident and aggressive," McCorkle continued. "Go make plays. Don't second guess yourself. It's less second guessing himself and just playing with his instinct."

There's no doubt that Harrison Keith owns a strong belief in himself, and because of that, the sky is the limit.

Remember, belief is one word, but can tell a powerful story.

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