Tim Keenan III is a defensive tackle and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who spent all five seasons of his collegiate career at the University of Alabama. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Keenan was a four-star recruit from Ramsay High School who chose the Crimson Tide over Tennessee, Georgia, Auburn, and other programs. He arrived at Alabama at roughly 380 pounds before a significant body transformation brought him down to a playing weight between 320 and 330 pounds, allowing him to become a starter. He redshirted in 2021, saw minimal action in 2022, and became a full-time starter at nose tackle in 2023, recording 38 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack in 14 games. His 2024 season was his most productive, with 40 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks, including an SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week performance against South Florida. He was named a permanent team captain for 2025 before missing Alabama's first three games recovering from ankle surgery, returning to finish with 16 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks across 12 starts. His career totals across 41 games stand at 95 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.
Measuring approximately 6 feet 1 inch and 325 to 332 pounds, Keenan is one of the more unique prospects in the class as a traditional two-gap zero or one technique nose tackle who projects into a specific but valuable role in odd defensive fronts at the next level. His anchor is considered exceptional, his natural leverage at his height makes him surprisingly difficult to move despite his below-average arm length, and his ability to absorb double teams while keeping linebackers free to flow to the ball is the exact function defensive coordinators ask from their nose tackles. The limitations are straightforward: his athletic profile is among the most limited in the class, he offers almost no pass-rush upside, and his range outside his immediate gap assignment is minimal. He projects as an early Day 3 selection who could develop into a reliable rotational or starting nose tackle for a defensive system built around two-gapping interior defenders.
