Keon Keeley is making the transition from being an outside linebacker/edge rusher to being a true defensive end.
The 6 foot 5, 277-pounder and former five-star returns to Tuscaloosa physically improved.
Alabama’s defensive coordinator Kane Womack was asked about Keeley’s transformation by media members Tuesday after practice.
“I mean, Keon has a very special skill set,” Wommack said. “He’s very strong at the point of attack. He’s very twitchy to be that big. We made that transition from him being an outside linebacker to a defensive end, which when you see his frame at this level and the next level he most certainly rightfully is going to be more that rush defensive end.”
Wommack went on to express the Tide staff’s ability to still be able to play Keeley within the middle ground of the Crimson Tide defense with his position change.
“Now, we’ll still drop those guys from time to time, we’ll do different things with them,” Wommack said. “But at the same time, I think he’s been really impressive being able to put his hand in the dirt, something that he hasn’t really done much. And I think he’s taken to that role and he’s learning a ton. He’s taking some steps. In fact, I thought I met another guy from the great steps he’s made from the spring to the summer.”
Keeley’s emergence now has the Alabama defensive staff excited to unleash this physical specimen on opposing offenses in the future as he continues to develop.
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