When I think of fall camp and Alabama football, I’m reminded of a line from Dont’a Hightower during the early days of Nick Saban’s tenure. It was the first padded practice of camp—sometime in 2010 or 2011—when Hightower said, “This is where I make people hate me.”
Fall camp has always drawn a hard line between those who embrace the grind and those who expect the game to come easy. Fifth-year senior Tim Keenan is firmly in the first group, and ahead of Alabama’s second scrimmage, he sent a pointed—maybe even prophetic—message 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.”
The warning seemed aimed squarely at younger players—guys who will be counted on to provide reliable depth this season. Keenan clearly felt they needed a push, and in true Saban fashion, he delivered it through the media just days before a pivotal scrimmage.
Tim Keenan’s Return and Leadership in 2025
One of the biggest offseason wins for head coach Kalen DeBoer was convincing veteran nose tackle Tim Keenan to return for a fifth year. With experienced depth on the defensive interior already thin, keeping a player with Keenan’s experience is critical for 2025 and beyond.
Keenan will pair with junior James Smith to anchor DC Kane Wommack’s defensive line—Keenan as the space-eater who occupies multiple blockers, Smith as the disruptive playmaker capable of wrecking backfields.
But after those two, Alabama will need breakout performances from younger linemen like Jeremiah Beaman and Edric Hill. Keenan and Wommack have also singled out emerging talents Isaia Faga, London Simmons, and Steve Mboumoua as names to watch.
This Saturday’s scrimmage carries weight—it’s the last one of fall camp before the focus shifts entirely to the season opener against Florida State. For some, it’s the moment to prove they belong in the rotation. For others, as Keenan bluntly put it, it’s the time to prepare for life on the scout team.
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