Pair of veteran Alabama defenders close to playing their ‘best football’

Oct 18, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) releases the ball before being tackled by Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson (0) in the second quarter at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

A pair of veteran Alabama defenders are still on the rise in their final year with the Crimson Tide.

Defensive tackle Tim Keenan III and linebacker Deontae Lawson were Alabama’s power players of the week after the South Carolina game, according to defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.

Both Lawson and Keenan have dealt with injuries before the 2025 start began. Lawson tore his ACL in 2024, and Keenan had to have tightrope surgery after suffering an ankle injury before the Florida State game.

Wommack broke down why he believes Keenan and Lawson are on the path to playing their best football.

“I think Tim is such a physical presence in the A-gaps, and some of the things we are able to do with him from a zero nose standpoint where he’s head up to the center, we’ve got a few different fronts that we operate where he’s playing a zero nose,” Wommack said. “Anytime that you can two gap and create some havoc and then some of the blocking schemes and the way people have to block versus a zero nose, versus a shade, he can be influential in four down looks. Absolutely. But, some of the things that he’s doing up front when we show a zero nose as well is just very disruptive, and so, great to watch and see the strides that he’s taking right know and the steps that he’s taken. Him and Deontae Lawson were our power players of the week last week. Both of those guys have overcome adversity and injury, and I think they are moving in a trajectory right now where they’re playing their best football.”

When Alabama needed a stop in a critical moment against South Carolina, the two players who stepped up and got the football back were Keenan and Lawson.

Keenan wrapped up quarterback LaNorris Sellers and began the process of bringing down the mobile quarterback. Lawson took a swipe at the football while Sellers was on his way down. Lawson ripped the football out, and Keenan recovered it. A few plays after that impactful turnover, the Alabama offense scored a touchdown that ultimately won the game for the Crimson Tide.

One of the most important plays of the game was made by Alabama’s defensive captains, and things are clicking for the Crimson Tide on defense.

Next up for the Alabama defense is a LSU offense that is trying to get the wheels turning again after a blowout loss at home to Texas A&M.