Alabama fifth-year senior Tim Keenan sent a harsh warning to his teammates this week, ahead of the Crimson Tide’s second scrimmage of fall camp.
When I think of fall camp and Alabama football, I think back to a quote from Dont’a Hightower during the early years of Nick Saban’s tenure as the Crimson Tide’s football coach. It was the first day of pads during fall camp in either 2010 or 2011, and I’m paraphrasing, but Hightower says, “This is where I make people hate me.”
Fall camp tends to separate those who love the grind and those who think football owes them something. Alabama fifth-year senior Tim Keenan finds himself in the former of those categories, and ahead of the Tide’s second scrimmage of fall camp, he had a poignant and perhaps prophetic warning to his teammates.
“If you don’t know the playbook, or if you’re not doing what you need to do by then, then get ready to help us out on some scout fields,” Keenan said. “To the guys that are actually putting in the work, it’s going to show this Saturday.”
Keenan’s message is undoubtedly more targeted to the younger players on Alabama’s team. Younger players who will be relied upon to provide reliable depth for the Crimson Tide this season. He clearly felt like they needed a kick in the pants, and Keenan took a cue from his former coach, Nick Saban, in sending that message through the media with just a couple of days before a pivotal second scrimmage.
Tim Keenan’s return and leadership is pivotal for Alabama in 2025
One of the biggest wins of the offseason for Kalen DeBoer and the coaching staff was getting veteran nose tackle Tim Keenan to return for a fifth year at Alabama. The Tide’s experienced depth on the defensive interior is questionable, so getting a guy with as much experience as Keenan to return to the room was pivotal for this season and the future of the defensive line.
Keenan and junior James Smith should form a formidable duo for DC Kane Wommack in the middle of the Tide’s defensive line. Keenan figures to be the space-eater, occupying multiple blocks and plugging rush lanes, while Smith has the potential to be the game-breaker, capable of getting into the backfield and dropping running backs for loss or terrorizing quarterbacks.
But behind those two, Alabama needs some younger players to break out. Guys like Jeremiah Beaman and Edric Hill will be relied upon to get plenty of snaps. But recently, Keenan and Wommack have both made special mention of younger players like Isaia Faga, London Simmons, and Steve Mboumoua.
Saturday’s second scrimmage will be pivotal because it’s the final scrimmage of fall camp before all work starts toward preparation for the season opener against Florida State. It’s time for guys to make their move or, as Keenan puts it, get ready for scout-team work.
Be the first to comment