Defensive end Keon Keeley is preparing for a breakout season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish after an unconventional path to South Bend.
The former top recruit of the 2023 Notre Dame class spent his first three seasons at Alabama before returning to the program this offseason via the transfer portal.
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Now entering the 2026 season, the Tampa, Florida native aims to maximize his remaining eligibility and conclude his collegiate career where many expected him to start.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 275 pounds, the Berkeley Prep alumnus brings significant physical presence to the defensive front as a senior with junior eligibility.
Limited Playing Time at Alabama
Keeley's playing time at Alabama remained limited during the 2025 regular season, where he logged only 96 snaps before earning 71 snaps across the SEC championship and two playoff matches.
Those postseason appearances yielded eight tackles, three pressures, two sacks, and three run stops, accounting for half of his seasonal tackles and two-thirds of his sacks.
The defensive lineman enters the current campaign with career totals of 19 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, nine quarterback pressures, and one fumble recovery.
Spring Evolution and Developmental Goals
Spring practices revealed that the edge rusher required technical development despite his senior status, though his power game remained evident during the Blue-Gold Game.
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Keeley effectively utilized his frame and length to disrupt the running game and push back opposing tackles, but observers noted a lack of advanced edge-rushing techniques.
