Keon Keeley gives Alabama another difference-making pass rusher

One of the nation’s top prospects is off the board, with five-star EDGE Keon Keeley announcing his commitment to Alabama on Monday afternoon. The one time Notre Dame pledge chose the Crimson Tide over Ohio State, among others.

Keeley ranks as the No. 3 overall prospect and top non-quarterback in On3’s On300 for the 2023 recruiting cycle. He joins Alabama‘s 2023 class that ranks No. 1 in On3’s Consensus Team Football Recruiting Rankings.

Let’s take a closer look at what Keon Keeley will bring to Tuscaloosa.

Top combination of size, explosiveness, strength

Keon Keeley is the biggest top EDGE prospect in the 2023 cycle, measuring around 6-foot-6, 245 pounds prior to his senior season. He also has good length for the position with 33 7/8-inch arms.

The Tampa Berkeley Prep standout pairs that big frame with high-end burst and explosion to manifest in a highly disruptive player off the edge. Keeley explodes off the ball, using a quick first step to quickly generate momentum. He easily converts speed to power, where he uses his size and length to drive offensive linemen back to the quarterback. Keeley has tangible play speed, both off the line and in pursuit. His movement skills are rare for a high school prospect of his size. Keeley is also effective on stunts, where he has a runway to build up speed.

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The new Alabama commit further differentiates himself from his fellow top-rated EDGE prospects with his ability to finish plays behind the line of scrimmage. Keeley is a violent striker, delivering huge hits on opposing quarterbacks and ball carriers. He physically harms quarterbacks. We also see Keeley physically impose his will on running backs. It’s not out of the ordinary to see him suplex ball carriers. The size and power also give Keeley the tools to develop into a strong edge setter and run defender with continued development.

Keon Keeley’s budding technicality

Keon Keeley first emerged as a high-upside EDGE prospect following his sophomore season at Berkeley Prep. He’s made considerable progress as a technical pass rusher over the past two seasons. This area has been a point of emphasis for the the five-star prospect and the progress shows on the field. The ability to win with speed, power and technical ability makes him a well-rounded pass rusher at this stage.

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— recruitvids3 (@recruitvids3) December 12, 2022

Keeley regularly shows a quick get-off with a knack for timing his first step with the snap. He follows the first step with quick hands, using his length and strength to neutralize offensive linemen at first contact with a swipe. We’ve also seen Keeley employ a long arm and explosive, reactive spin move.

Elite production and high effort level

Keon Keeley made the jump from an intriguing, high upside underclassman to a dominant high school player as a junior at Berkeley Prep. The strong play on Friday nights continued in his senior season. Keeley totaled 32.5 sacks as a junior and senior, good for around 1.5 per game. That production registers on the high end among top 2023 pass rushers.

If anything, Keeley ramped up his overall disruption as a senior. Like many top EDGE prospects over the years, Keeley showed a tendency to wreck an opposing team’s game plan. He didn’t just register sacks, but forced five fumbles with a few going for scores. That’s along with repeated hits and pressures on opposing quarterbacks.

Keeley’s effort level on a snap-to-snap basis is also encouraging. I attended his spring game in May and wrote this at the time: “Keeley also impressed with his effort level over the course of the game. As noted earlier, he played the majority of the snaps and we didn’t see him come off the field on defense. He chased a play from the backside in the first half, showing play speed and motor. Many of Keeley’s most impactful plays came in the second half. He seemed to get better as the game wore on.”

That consistent, high level production and effort points to both natural ability and a high floor that furthers the likelihood of an early impact at Alabama.

Keon Keeley’s fit and impact at Alabama

Alabama will look to replace All-American pass rusher Will Anderson, who is expected to declare for the NFL Draft. Dallas Turner will also be draft eligible after the 2023 season. Adding a prospect of Keeley’s caliber goes a long way in reloading at the position for the Crimson Tide. He pairs with fellow Alabama commit Yhonzae Pierre to give the Crimson Tide the top-ranked pair of committed pass rushers in the 2023 cycle, per On3’s rankings.

While Keeley is bigger than most of Alabama’s Jack linebackers over the years, he does look to be a good fit at the position. Keeley regularly rushes out of a two-point stance at Berkeley prep and looks most comfortable in that role at this point. Similar to Will Anderson, Keeley is more of a straight-line pass rusher as opposed to winning with bend around the edge. His size and well-rounded skill set put him in the position to see the field earlier than many of his peers at the position.

We’re slated to see Keeley go against some top offensive linemen at the All-American Bowl in January. Seeing the five-star in that neutral setting should provide further insight into his ability. Regardless, the addition of the top-ranked pass rusher is reason for excitement for Alabama fans.