Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer‘s problems did not end with the lopsided Rose Bowl defeat to Indiana. He’s losing players, and now, defensive lineman Keon Keeley, a former five-star recruit, has made a significant decision amid a difficult phase for the Crimson Tide. ESPN’s No.12 overall from 2023, according to reports, has decided to enter the transfer portal, joining 15 other players who have already made that move.

On January 4th, college football insider Pete Thamel took to X and revealed, “NEWS: Alabama defensive end Keon Keeley tells ESPN that he’s entering the NCAA transfer portal. He’s the former No. 1 defensive end from the class of 2023 and ESPN’s No. 12 overall recruit that year.”

It appears that after three hard-fought seasons at Tuscaloosa, the elite pass rusher has finally decided to start a new chapter. Once the nation’s top defensive end recruit, his high school dominance fueled sky-high expectations that lingered just out of reach. Now, that raw potential beckons programs nationwide, and while his departure will be a loss for Alabama, it will be a gain for a competitor.

Everyone expected him to be a Day 1-caliber player for the Tide. However, he actually redshirted his entire freshman year and didn’t see the field at all. Obviously, stagnation had its own repercussions for Keon. In 2024, he switched positions from outside linebacker to a defensive end spot called “bandit” and put on some serious weight to fit the role, but he only played in five games and had little to no stats.

The good news is he trusted the process, and safe to say, it’s paid off in 2025. The former 5-star saw a career-high 12 games of action and started making an impact, finishing with 16 tackles and 3 sacks. The irony is that his departure is a bit of a surprise because he was finally carving out a role for himself. He even gave a word to a local newspaper just a few days back that he was looking forward to the 2026 season with the Tide.

Apparently, the competition for playing time was still pretty fierce, and he was often running as the second- or even third-string player at his position. Obviously, a fresh start elsewhere feels like a mature move. Losing Keeley means Kalen DeBoer and Co. will have to navigate their thin defensive front, with the pressure on the head coach amplified.

So, what’s next for Keon Keeley? He’s expected to draw a ton of interest from schools across the country. Teams could be lining up to land him because of his high-end potential. Within a week or so, we should have a pretty solid idea of his next destination. However, it’s not all gray clouds in Tuscaloosa.

Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide portal incoming activity

So far, the transfer portal news for Bama has been more about who’s leaving than who’s coming in, but there’s still plenty of action. The only official “new guy” as of today is 6’6”, 255-pound tight end Josh Ford from Oklahoma State, who not only brings size but also blocking reliability and Power Four experience. Even though it’s been a quiet start for additions, the coaching staff is definitely “window shopping” for more talent ferociously.

The Crimson Tides have also been linked to some massive names, like former five-star wide receiver Cam Coleman (Auburn) and RB Raleek Brown (ASU). Both of whom have visits lined up for this week at Tuscaloosa. Kalen DeBoer and Co. are also keeping a close eye on the offensive line, looking at guys like Michigan transfer Kaden Strayhorn to help fix a group that’s seen a lot of turnover lately.

The reason the Tide needs to hit the portal so hard is that over 16 players said adios already. With the portal window officially staying open until January 16, the next two weeks are going to be a wild ride. Who do you think will end up committing to Alabama when the portal closes? Let us know in the comments.

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