Why Keon Keeley is now getting more snaps

Oct 11, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula (9) runs the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Keon Keeley (31) during the second half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Alabama football’s defensive lineman and former five-star, Keon Keeley is starting to turn a corner in his development, and the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator Kane Wommack is rewarding him for doing so.

Keeley made his first real impact in an Alabama uniform Saturday against Missouri when he contributed two tackles and a half a sack. The 6-foot-6, 242-pounder’s performance gave what Wommack feels Alabama fans have been waiting for.

“I know our fans have been waiting on that, waiting on him to take steps, ” Wommack said to reporters on Monday. “I’m excited for him. We’ve been continually working. I talked about him in the offseason that he’s taken steps in the right direction. Certainly, he didn’t have the role that probably he would want at the beginning of the season, but he’s just continually taking steps in the right direction and so, he has a role for us now. And he took advantage of that role on Saturday.”

Wommack went on to highlight the vast improvements Keeley has made.

“I thought he did a really nice job in some different pass rush scenarios,” Wommack said. “He’s getting better and better at his down in and down out play, consistency, doing his job at the same high level… It’s just about doing your job fundamentally at a high level over and over again, and he’s doing that more consistently and so he got rewarded with reps. And then he took advantage of those reps and produced for us on GameDay, so I’m excited for him as I am about a number of guys within our defense.”

Keeley now looks to continue carving out a niche for himself in his increased opportunities.