5-star EDGE Keon Keeley commits to Alabama Crimson Tide

On Monday, the Alabama Crimson Tide added one of the nation’s top senior prospects to their 2023 class.

With nine days left until Early Signing Period, five-star prospect Keon Keeley announced his commitment to Nick Saban‘s program today. The product of Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep had offers from the likes of Florida, Georgia, Ohio State and others, but opted to team up with Alabama after visiting the school for two game day visits this season.

“I love the program,” Keeley said of Alabama earlier this fall. “Feels like they do everything for me in the sense that I can be a great man and a great football player. I need to go there with the right mind-set and good things will happen. That’s what they are telling me, and it’s just Alabama.”

READ: Keon Keeley explains why Alabama came out on top: “Alabama was where I really loved it”

Keeley wasn’t always uncommitted throughout his recruiting process.

The nation’s top-ranked EDGE committed to Notre Dame in June 2021, but reopened his recruitment back on Aug. 17 of this year. After his decommitment, Keeley took visits to Florida and Ohio State (official and an unofficial in September). He officially visited Alabama for the Texas A&M game weekend and then returned for the Iron Bowl last month.

In a previous interview with BamaInsider, Keeley discussed Saban’s message to him during his official visit.

“You have an opportunity to be great here,” Keeley previously told us. “If you do everything you’re supposed to do, you have a chance to be a great player. He said there’s no promises but, if you do what you’re supposed to do, you’ll be a great player. Just letting me know I’m a great fit for the school and he’d love to have me with the program.”

Berkeley Prep HC Dominick Ciao says Alabama commit Keon Keeley has “tremendous upside”

While in T-Town in October, he also got a push from Will Anderson Jr., who Alabama is hoping Keeley will be able to fill in for at the Jack position next year and beyond.

“He said to go to the University of Alabama,” Keeley said of Anderson’s message. “It’s the best decision he made. The people also don’t change. It’s just a great place to go to. It means a lot. He’s definitely a great player. Definitely someone I’d love to model my game after.”

Alabama is getting a special talent in Keon Keeley

Keon Keeley was a highly productive player during his time in high school.

During his final two seasons at Berkeley Prep, Keeley recorded 33.5 total sacks and had 29 quarterback hurries. The 6-foot-6, 245-pounder also had 101 total tackles, including 57.5 tackles for loss.

On3 rankings expert raves about new Alabama commit Keon Keeley

That incredible production and development has led to Keeley earning the No. 3 overall ranking on On3’s Class of 2023 rankings. He’s also drawn comparisons to a former No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick.

“Keon Keeley has similar size, length and the disruptive pass rush ability we saw from Chase Young as a recruit,” the On3 Comparison on Keeley reads. “Keon Keeley has measured 6-foot-5.5, 245 pounds while Young was around 6-foot-5, 250 pounds as a senior in high school. Both have arm lengths around 34 inches. Like Chase Young, Keeley is a big, explosive pass rusher with the ability to win off the edge with speed, bend or power.”

Keeley prides himself not only on dominating on the gridiron, but also excelling off the field as well.

“I like to be me – friendly and nice to those around me,” Keeley’s On3 bio reads. “But on the field, I’m coming to work. I’m going to play hard and win games. Whatever the team needs me to do, that’s what I’ll do. I want to win, win, win, win. I also want to be one of the best students in the classroom, be one of the nicest people in the community and help out as many people as I can.”

With the addition of Keeley, Alabama now holds commitments from three recruits who are On3 Consensus five-stars. 11 of their 25 pledges are top-100 prospects, with Bama extending their lead over Georgia in the 2023 On3 Consensus Football Team Recruiting Rankings following Keeley’s commitment.

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