One of Alabama football’s departed defensive linemen has found his new home through the transfer portal. Keon Keeley, who spent three seasons with the Crimson Tide, is transferring to Notre Dame.
Keeley shared the news to his social media Monday morning.
“It all comes full circle,” Keeley wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. “Go Irish.”
Keeley was a five-star edge-rusher prospect out of Tampa, Fl. when he arrived in Tuscaloosa. The 247Sports composite ranked him as the No. 1 edge in the 2023 recruiting class, and the No. 2 player nationally that year.
He had trouble getting on the field early at Alabama. Keeley didn’t play his true freshman season, stuck around through the coaching transition from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer, and switched positions for 2024.
Instead of edge, Keeley moved over to the more traditional defensive end spot that Kane Wommack refers to as the “bandit.” He got on the field a bit that year, but did not make a true impact until 2025.
Keeley finally saw real playing time last season. He began getting on the field in the Crimson Tide’s third-down package, and his role expanded from there.
“Certainly he didn’t have the role that probably he would want at the beginning of the season, but he’s continually taking steps in the right direction,” Wommack said. “He has a role for us now, and he took advantage of that role on Saturday (against Missouri in October). I thought he did a really nice job in some different pass rush scenarios.”
The 6-foot-5, 282-pound Keeley finished the season with 13 total tackles and three sacks. He told AL.com before Alabama’s season ended with a 38-3 loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl that he was planning on sticking around for next year.
“Yeah, of course,” Keeley said. “Yeah, I’m excited for next season.”
Evidently, plans changed. Keeley entered the transfer portal when it opened following the Crimson Tide’s loss.
His departure was part of a larger exodus at the bandit position. In addition LT Overton running out of eligibility, James Smith and Kelby Collins also hit the portal.
The transfer portal remains open for undergraduate entry through Friday. Players can sign with a new team at any time, including after the window for entry closes.
