Alabama teammates rave about Keon Keeley as former 5-star makes long-awaited impact

Alabama fans have waited a long time for former 5-star Keon Keeley to make an impact on the team. Keeley - the former 5-star and No. 3 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class - traveled a long road to get to Saturday against Missouri. He's been a career backup to this point, failing to make the quick impact his recruiting ranking made fans believe he would.

Development takes time, but Keeley had already been labeled as a "bust" by many, despite being just a redshirt sophomore. Ridiculous expectations were placed on a kid who endured a coaching - and subsequently a position - change after his freshman season.

He was patient, quietly working. And on Saturday against Missouri, Keeley got his opportunity. He didn't miss it.

Keeley got on the field early, and it wasn't long before he put himself in position to make a play.

With LT Overton swarming toward Beau Pribula and forcing him to step up in the pocket, Keeley was there to bring down the Missouri QB for his first career sack.

Keon Keeley's first career sack drew rave reviews from his Alabama teammates

Better than Keeley making the play when given an opportunity was the reaction in the postgame to it by his teammates. Their reaction shows you how Alabama has bounced back from the season-opening loss to Florida State. This is a tight-knit locker room, with few egos, and they cheer for one another's success more than they cheer for their own. To borrow a phrase from Nate Oats, this team's "Mudita" is strong. For you non-basketball fans, "Mudita" is the concept of joy in the success of others.

“I just told him, ‘Hey, man. When you get your opportunity, go make something happen,’ Deontae Lawson said. "And that’s what he did, man. Super proud of him. I know he’s gonna build on that, know he’s gonna continue to get better, and just proud of him.”

"Man, I'm just so proud of Keon Keeley," Nikhai Hill-Green said. "Me and him, we've gotten pretty close. And just seeing him consistently grind and grind and grind and get his moment and make the most of it, I'm super proud of him."

Keeley is far from a finished product, but his getting on the field early against Missouri speaks to him continuing to quietly put in the work. He's not sulking about a lack of playing time. He's been working to get better. And that worked paid off for him - and for Alabama - on Saturday against Missouri.

Keeley's emergence could be terrific news as Alabama continues to work to build depth for the long season ahead.