He is not a big talker, but everyone listens when he does speak.
As a Birmingham (Ala.) native, he knows how important Alabama football is to him and his community.
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He grew up in the passion, culture, and environment of winning national championships. After getting the opportunity to play for Nick Saban for three seasons (2021-23), he chose to remain with the Crimson Tide to play for Kalen DeBoer. He’s committed himself to his faith walk in God and it has transformed his body, leadership, and mentality on the field. He earned Defensive Player of the Week in the Southeastern Conference for his performance against South Florida, but he’s starting to look like a potential first-round NFL Draft pick. Tim Keenan III, a redshirt junior, is not only a leader but a force on the defensive line.
He made his presence felt against Byrum Brown, sacking the Bulls’ quarterback 1.5 times. Keenan had 2.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry, and nine total stops in Alabama’s 42-16 victory. The 6-foot-2, 326-pounder is winning his one-on-one matchups and is becoming an interior pass rusher. Que Robinson, a veteran edge rusher, said the Tide feeds off Keenan on the defensive front.
“Of course, it is his extreme faith in God,” Robinson said about Keenan’s leadership.
“I think that is his motivating factor, just his extreme faith in God. And everyone feeds off that. When Tim is hype, everyone is hype. He is that person we feed off on the D-line. So when he’s out there creating plays, it makes everyone else hungry.”
Kobe Prentice, another Alabama native like Robinson and Keenan, said Keenan ‘has been a dawg since Ramsay.’
“He has just carried that mentality to Alabama,” Prentice said about Keenan.
“Then with them (Coach) Ballou workouts, he’s a dawg.”
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Kane Wommack challenged Keenan in the spring to be a better pass rusher. The Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator is proud that Keenan took to the challenge and is getting rewarded.
“I am so impressed with Tim Keenan,” Wommack said.
“I think, fundamentally, he is playing with great hand placement, great block recognition, physical up front, and he’s doing a better job of disengaging and getting off of blocks. I am very proud of the work he has put in and glad that he’s been rewarded.”
Keenan has 12 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a quarterback hurry in two games.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
