Alabama defensive tackle Tim Keenan III set to return from injury against Georgia

For the first time this season, Alabama will have its team captain leading the defensive line. During his Monday news conference, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack confirmed that Tim Keenan III will be available for No. 17 Alabama’s SEC opener at No. 5 Georgia this weekend. 

“Tim will be back for the game,” Wommack said. “He’s done a great job. He’s been practicing the last couple of days here and looked pretty good. So credit to him and Jeff Allen and our staff for getting him ready to go.”

Keenan, a redshirt senior, has missed Alabama’s first three games with an ankle injury he sustained during fall camp. Last season, the 6-foot-2, 320-pound defensive lineman recorded 40 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss with 2.5 sacks, to go with a pair of quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.

According to PFF, Keenan led Alabama with a 90.1 run-blocking grade last season. His ability to plug holes against the run should go a long way toward the Crimson Tide slowing down a Georgia offense that is averaging 209 yards per game on the ground.

“So excited, certainly, to have him back,” Wommack said. “Just the physicality that he brings, the experience, the block recognition, the ability to get off of blocks. And certainly what he does, not only in the run game, but I thought he has taken some in the pass rush as well from an interior pass rusher.”

Along with his physical contribution, Keenan is one of the most influential voices inside Alabama’s locker room. Monday, head coach Kalen DeBoer said the redshirt senior’s leadership will be key in a tough road game this weekend. 

“He’s voted team captain for a reason,” DeBoer said. “And so, the energy he’s brought the last even two to three weeks, just his juice. He’s that way naturally. He loves his place. I think his perspective of being on the sideline has brought another level of energy to him that our defense and our whole team has responded to.”

While Keenan is set to make his season debut this weekend, DeBoer revealed last week that the defensive lineman will be eased back into action upon his return.

“With any injury, there’s a volume increase that has to happen and a progression,” DeBoer said last week. “This week, we’ll keep building on a few of the things he did last week. I don’t know what that will be yet, at this point, kind of see depending the progress he makes. I don’t anticipate that he’ll be able to go out and just play a full game, maybe at the number of snaps that he would if he was completely healthy.”

Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Beamon started in his place during the season opener against Florida State before suffering a lower-body injury that will keep him out for the rest of the year. True freshman London Simmons has started in the nose guard role the past two games. 

Along with Keenan, Alabama will also see the return of senior running back Jam Miller, who has missed the first three games due to a collarbone injury.

Alabama (2-1) and Georgia (3-0) are set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT inside Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. The game will be televised on ABC.