Tim Keenan III didn’t burst onto the scene like some of Alabama’s past defensive stars. His journey to becoming a leader for the Crimson Tide took years of patience, faith, and hard work—starting from the sidelines as a redshirt and culminating in his appearance as a team representative at SEC Media Days.
Entering his fifth year with the program, Keenan stands as a testament to resilience in an era of instant transfers and quick exits. After barely seeing the field in his first two seasons, many players in his situation might have hit the transfer portal. Keenan, however, stayed put, believing in the process and his purpose.
“I was raised to finish what I start,” Keenan said. “Even when it didn’t look like it was going to work out, I just had faith that God had a plan.”
Now an anchor on Alabama’s defensive line, Keenan played a key role in 2023, emerging as one of the SEC’s top interior defenders. His strength, vision, and motor on the field are matched by the leadership he brings off it.
That leadership, Keenan says, was inspired by some of the Crimson Tide’s greats—names like Quinnen Williams, Daron Payne, Marcell Dareus, and DJ Dale. “Being from Birmingham, I saw those guys as legends,” Keenan said. “They showed me that hard work, faith, and believing in yourself could turn dreams into reality.”
Keenan had a front-row seat to DJ Dale’s career and even interacted with Williams during recruiting. What stood out most, he said, was their mindset. “They didn’t start right away either,” he said. “They had to grind, and they did it the right way. That stuck with me.”
It wasn’t just football that shaped Keenan’s outlook. He speaks often about the role his faith played in his development, both as a player and a man. “It’s all God,” Keenan said. “That’s who kept me going when it was tough, when it seemed like the door wasn’t going to open. I leaned on Him.”
That mindset made him a natural choice to represent Alabama at SEC Media Days, alongside head coach Kalen DeBoer. For Keenan, it was more than a media event—it was a dream realized. “I’ve been ‘Roll Tide’ since I was a kid,” he said. “To now be here representing the team, it’s surreal. It’s a blessing.”
When asked how he wants to be remembered when his Alabama career ends, Keenan didn’t hesitate. “I want people to say I was a God-fearing man who stayed the course. A guy who gave everything on and off the field. I want it to be a Cinderella story—one with a happy ending.”
As Keenan gears up for one final season in Tuscaloosa, he’s hoping to follow in his mentors’ footsteps—not just as a leader, but as a national champion. That, he says, would be the perfect way to close the chapter.
“Quinnen, Daron, DJ—they all left with rings,” Keenan said. “That’s the mission now. Leave it all out there, and finish strong.”