Former 5-star Keon Keeley has endured a ton of undue criticism in his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa. After just two years on campus, he was unfairly already labeled a bust by 247 Sports.
That's in spite of everything that worked against the former elite recruit. It's important to remember that after his freshman season, Nick Saban retired, and Keeley had to assimilate into a new defensive system with Kalen DeBoer and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
Last season was a transition year for Keeley. This year, things are starting to click for the redshirt sophomore.
Keeley recorded his first career sack on the road against Missouri a few weeks ago. Last week against South Carolina, Keeley sacked LaNorris Sellers on the last play of the game to put the finishing touches on Alabama's win. When the game was on the line, DeBoer and the coaching staff trusted Keeley to be in the game. That's a huge jump from where he was at the beginning of the season.
He's getting more and more playing time, and could be in line for an even bigger role on the other side of the bye week.
"He's got the physical tools and is executing and getting the techniques down and really carving out a role, and building onto that role each and every week," Kalen DeBoer said about Keeley on Hey Coach on Wednesday, via On3's Charlie Potter. "That's exciting because he's such a great kid and you want it for him."
Keon Keeley could be a key piece for Alabama's defense down the stretch
Alabama has not had a ton of success blitzing this season. Alabama's best strategy defensively has been rushing four and dropping seven. To do that successfully, you have to be able to get a pass rush with just four guys.
Wommack is still working out who his best rushers are. One of them is clearly Yhonzae Pierre. Another may be Keeley, who is tied for fourth on the team in sacks despite playing significantly fewer snaps than the guys ahead of him on this list.
LT Overton will continue to start at Bandit, but it would not be surprising if Keeley emerges as the primary backup after the bye week. Fellow redshirt sophomore Jordan Renaud has typically rotated in ahead of Keeley, but he has not been nearly as productive in his snaps.
When Qua Russaw returns from injury in a few weeks, a four-man pass rushing package that includes Russaw, Pierre, Overton, and Keeley could be a nightmare for opposing offensive lines on obvious passing downs.