Keith Abney II became a cornerback prospect for the NFL at Arizona State. But he built his athletic career by roller skating.

Not disco-lights-and-80s-music roller skating. This was essentially speed skating, but on inline skates on a roller rink rather than ice. It built his endurance, built his core, built his stability and ankle strength, all of which helped in playing football.

"Definitely a lot of things translate," Abney said Thursday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Abney is among the top 10 to 15 cornerbacks in the draft class; at 6-foot and 190 pounds, many think he could be a second-round pick. He acknowledged he is an aggressive player that likely will have to work on his being "handsy" when he gets into the league, but his confidence is evident.

He's already shown he can be a winner on the rink.

Abney started roller skating when he was 5. His grandmother ran a daycare, and each Thursday they would take a field trip to the roller rink. At first, Abney was just racing the other kids to win candy. But when the roller rink owner say Abney finishing before most kids were out of the first turn, he told Abney's grandmother they should look into competitive events.

From 5 to about 15 -- right before the Covid pandemic hit -- Abney traveled everywhere and become one of the nation's best in his age group.

"I was winning races, setting records, all across the country," he said. "It was pretty cool."

Abney doesn't skate much at all anymore. Too much is at stake as he pursues his NFL dreams. The days of competing for Tootsie Rolls and Skittles are long over.

"I wish," Abney said about still skating. "I haven't put on skates in a minute."