Former Crimson Tide offensive tackle Evan Neal is the one who made sure Keenan knew it.
An eventual first-round draft pick of the New York Giants, Neal was a dominant force at 6-foot-7 and 350 pounds, and no freshman was any match for him.
“Definitely Evan Neal, he helped me a lot. Especially, he taught me how to sit down on those double-teams for sure,” Keenan said. “… That was when he had moved to tackle. That’s when I’d see (Neal) winding up his back leg, fixing to come try to knock my block off. I definitely had to be prepared for that.”
Keenan took a redshirt that season to add some strength and learn those lessons from Neal and other veterans on the UA offensive line. A year later as a redshirt freshman, he saw action in only two games. But eventually he developed into a starter, and this year became the most disruptive force among UA’s interior defensive linemen, notching career highs in tackles for loss and sacks.
Knowing the time it took for him to even get on the field, much less succeed on it, Keenan said he marvels all the more at the instant adjustment that UA freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams has made at age 17.
“Me and Ryan are in two different categories. I was 17 and still in high school, still going to Chick-fil-A after school,” he said with a laugh. “He’s got to catch passes from (Jalen) Milroe and I was worrying about this homework I’ve got to turn in for chemistry or whatever.”
Keenan had no choice but to bide his time; now, his time could be up.
It remains to be seen whether Keenan has played his last game for the Crimson Tide. Because he took the redshirt in 2021, he could return as a fifth-year senior next season. He also could call it a career at UA and turn to the 2025 NFL draft, for which pro scouts consider him draft-worthy, but likely a late selection.
