'23 FL DE Keon Keeley (Prodigal Son)

[NDPhilly]

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Some of you need new hobbies

Right? This team is a power house with very minor holes. Add a decent DT and a kicker. Anything else is gravy.

 

[RudyVerse]

Right? This team is a power house with very minor holes. Add a decent DT and a kicker. Anything else is gravy.

We gotta stop talking ourselves down in need. We need 2 starting level DTs minimum, and a SDE.

Unless we’re not in it to win a title in 2026.

Reminder, 8 of our top 11 DL are gone now.

 

[Blazers46]

I did drive past the Gug, only saw a short line golf carts… which I have been told is a sign someone is on campus and the carts are for players to be escorted around… so there’s at least a golf cart sighting.

 

[Rocketman84]

I have no idea if we did or not. I didn't follow him that closely. I don't know that I'd get too worked up and excited over the idea of him transferring to ND. I think he's just one of those guys who was close to his peak coming out of HS and hasn't gotten dramatically better since. Not a bad kid at all and supposedly is a hard worker and coachable but just wasn't able to continue improving enough to be a star.

Or maybe he went to the wrong school and they took a 245lb guy who was the best DE prospect in the class, and tried to turn him into a 285lb DT.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I did drive past the Gug, only saw a short line golf carts… which I have been told is a sign someone is on campus and the carts are for players to be escorted around… so there’s at least a golf cart sighting.

Can they play dt?

 

[Bishop2b5]

Or maybe he went to the wrong school and they took a 245lb guy who was the best DE prospect in the class, and tried to turn him into a 285lb DT.

Quite possible, but considering Bama's record of developing players the past 20 years, which seems more likely?

 

[Blazers46]

Can they play dt?

Probably… just need to recharge every few hundred miles.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Quite possible, but considering Bama's record of developing players the past 20 years, which seems more likely?

Two years ago, the answer would be clear. But the last two years at Bama....honestly don't know.

 

[Kingbish01]

Two years ago, the answer would be clear. But the last two years at Bama....honestly don't know.

The Bama with Saban and the Bama without are two totally different animals. The Bama without is closer to Mizzu than UGA.

 

[T Town Tommy]

The Bama with Saban and the Bama without are two totally different animals. The Bama without is closer to Mizzu than UGA.

In case you haven’t noticed, Ga and Kirby are struggling to adapt to the new landscape as well. Kirby went on an epic rant recently about players playing for themselves and looking for paydays instead of putting in the work and being loyal. That sell isn’t cutting it with today’s players.

 

[Rocketman84]

The Bama with Saban and the Bama without are two totally different animals. The Bama without is closer to Mizzu than UGA.

Saban was just allowed to NIL before it was legal and he abandoned ship before it became widespread. Coaching against an even playing field wasn't in the cards for him.

 

[Kingbish01]

In case you haven’t noticed, Ga and Kirby are struggling to adapt to the new landscape as well. Kirby went on an epic rant recently about players playing for themselves and looking for paydays instead of putting in the work and being loyal. That sell isn’t cutting it with today’s players.

I only used UGA because they won the SEC....."Bama without is closer to Mizzu, Tenn and Florida than UGA, Ole Miss, A&M and Texas. "

 

[Bluto]

Can they play dt?

Kinda like a giant roomba. Seems easy enough.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Or maybe he went to the wrong school and they took a 245lb guy who was the best DE prospect in the class, and tried to turn him into a 285lb DT.

Let me try to help with some of the inconsistencies with Keeley and his development. When KK came to Bama they were running a 3-4 front and KK weighed 240 or so. Once Womack arrived, they went to a 4-2-5 set. He was never tried to be turned into a DT. He was going to slot into the bandit role his second year which would have allowed him to get the most out of his athleticism. He could pack the extra weight (maybe a bit too much at 280) to put his hand down on the line but was also athletic enough to play straight up. It’s taken him two years to develop and he showed signs this year that he could be very effective at the position, so much so that he is garnering a lot of portal attention even with limited reps.

 

[ndgreg]

This is special stuff. Look at how pumped the Bama fans are on the original post.

Maybe I'm just use to ND defenses speed, but he

This is special stuff. Look at how pumped the Bama fans are on the original post.

Maybe I'm just use to seeing ND defensive speed, but he looks really slow at that weight.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Maybe I'm just use to ND defenses speed, but he

Maybe I'm just use to seeing ND defensive speed, but he looks really slow at that weight.

He doesn't look like the 230Ib pass rusher we saw of him in high school, but for 280... that stop and start, the mirror ability, the speed to chase is quite good.

That being said, you have him drop 10-15 pounds and he's a monster.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

KK at 265-270 is an absolute beast and would an incredible complement to Traore/Young/DE room.

But...I don't know if we have the money for him. Would love to see what he looks like after working with Landow who has position & athlete-specific plans.

 

[NDPhilly]

None of the top DEs in the NFL are 280+. Not sure what Bama was trying to do with him.

Myles Garrett is 6'4" 272
Hutchinson is 6'7" 268
Maxx Crosby is 6'5" 255

 

[CanadalovesND]

None of the top DEs in the NFL are 280+. Not sure what Bama was trying to do with him.

Myles Garrett is 6'4" 272
Hutchinson is 6'7" 268
Maxx Crosby is 6'5" 255

If wasn't that long ago that a 290Ib JJ Watt was the best edge player in the NFL.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

If wasn't that long ago that a 290Ib JJ Watt was the best edge player in the NFL.

NFL Edge guys average around 260-265. They're also getting lighter and faster to be more explosive in the current game.

JJ Watt is always going to be an exception and not the rule.

 

[Rocketman84]

Let me try to help with some of the inconsistencies with Keeley and his development. When KK came to Bama they were running a 3-4 front and KK weighed 240 or so. Once Womack arrived, they went to a 4-2-5 set. He was never tried to be turned into a DT. He was going to slot into the bandit role his second year which would have allowed him to get the most out of his athleticism. He could pack the extra weight (maybe a bit too much at 280) to put his hand down on the line but was also athletic enough to play straight up. It’s taken him two years to develop and he showed signs this year that he could be very effective at the position, so much so that he is garnering a lot of portal attention even with limited reps.

Yea, it's crazy because initially he came as an OLB at 244 for the 3-4 set. They quickly packed 35lbs on him for the "bandit" position and at around 280lbs he was being lined up inside and outside, so therefore people looked at as him being put out of position and billed up to much to play inside instead of as a natural edge player. He has looked good in his limited time and has created pressures on the QB for 17% of his snaps, so I think he would definitely excel here but wonder if he would be utilized as a natural edge or in the Vyper role while dropping about 12lbs.

 

[Rocketman84]

None of the top DEs in the NFL are 280+. Not sure what Bama was trying to do with him.

Myles Garrett is 6'4" 272
Hutchinson is 6'7" 268
Maxx Crosby is 6'5" 255

Exactly, he would've been just fine at 265-270

 

[allenm5333]

NFL Edge guys average around 260-265. They're also getting lighter and faster to be more explosive in the current game.

JJ Watt is always going to be an exception and not the rule.

And also JJ Watt was more or a 3-4 de and would often play dt in passing situations.

 

[WildMan1]

Right? This team is a power house with very minor holes. Add a decent DT and a kicker. Anything else is gravy.

I don’t know man.. DT is a major hole. We need at least two decent additions & that’s IF Onye is granted another year.

 

[FireJeffQuinn]

KK at 265-270 is an absolute beast and would an incredible complement to Traore/Young/DE room.

But...I don't know if we have the money for him. Would love to see what he looks like after working with Landow who has position & athlete-specific plans.

Considering we haven’t signed anyone yet, we probably do have the money for him.

 

[stlnd01]

Kinda wild. Coming out of high school, Keeley and Traore were the exact same size. 6-5/245.
This season, Traore was listed at 250. Keeley at 282. And which of them has been the better college football player?

 

[US_Highway14]

Why haven't we locked up Keeley yet? What's going on

 

[Rocketman84]

Why haven't we locked up Keeley yet? What's going on

He brought his Uncle

 

[IrishinSyria]

In case you haven’t noticed, Ga and Kirby are struggling to adapt to the new landscape as well. Kirby went on an epic rant recently about players playing for themselves and looking for paydays instead of putting in the work and being loyal. That sell isn’t cutting it with today’s players.

What an epically hypocritical thing for a coach making $13 mil/year to rant about.