Notre Dame 2026 Player Profile: Defensive End Keon Keeley

The journey to Notre Dame was unique for defensive end Keon Keeley, but the long wait for seeing him in an Irish uniform is getting closer and closer. Once the crown jewel of the Notre Dame 2023 recruiting class, Keeley ultimately signed with Alabama, where he spent his first three seasons. He transferred to Notre Dame this offseason, and now he gets a chance to finish his career off with a bang at the school he should have signed with out of high school.

Here is our 2026 season preview and profile for Keeley:

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KEON KEELEY PROFILE

Class/Eligibility: Senior / Junior
Height/Weight: 6-5, 275
Hometown/High School: Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep

CAREER STATS

2025: 16 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 FR, 9 pressures (PFF)
2024: 3 tackles, 2 pressures (PFF)

CAREER: 19 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 FR, 9 pressures 

2025 SEASON IN REVIEW

Keeley didn't play much for Alabama for much of the 2025 season. He played just 96 snaps during the regular season, but Keeley played 71 snaps in the SEC title game and the two playoff games. Keeley registered eight tackles, three pressures, two sacks and three run stops in those contests. That made up half of his season-long tackle numbers, a third of his pressures, two-thirds of his sacks and over half of his run stops.

FALL CAMP PREVIEW

During the spring it was clear that Keeley arrived at Notre Dame with a lot of work needed. He has a great frame and in the Blue-Gold Game you could see his power game. Keeley used his length, size and power to get a good push in the run game, and he used it effectively to rock back tackles in the pass game. What we didn't see, however, was an advanced array of moves to win on the edge. Keeley was raw when he arrived, despite being a senior. We saw growth throughout the spring, and the key in fall camp is to enhance his technical game and show even more consistency and understanding of how to win and make plays. I also want to see Keeley show that he's put in the work in the weight room over the summer as he continues reshaping his body and getting it in better condition than it was when he arrived.

I believe Keeley is going to benefit quite a bit from additional time in the system, in the strength program and learning from Charlie Partridge. That's why I think we see him show even more improvement in fall camp.

2026 EXPECTATIONS

There are a few levels to what expectations are for Keeley in his first season with the Irish. The baseline for Keeley is that he locks down a key rotation spot at end, and that he plays at a level that makes the coaching staff comfortable to give him consistent snaps. Keeley has good power and size, and the expectation is that he'll be able to use that to be a quality run defender. He showed a much-improved ability to handle the edge in the spring, and his skillset is perfect for a strong off-the-bench run defender. That will be key for Keeley if he's going to lock down a key rotation spot, which means more than just giving the starters the occasional breather. If Keeley can do this and be just solid as a pass rusher he'll be able to match what we from players like Junior Tuihalamaka and Jordan Botelho off the bench last season.

The second level is that Keeley not only provides strong run defense, but he also shows the ability to get after the quarterback. This is where his technical game needs the most work. He showed more burst off the edge in the spring than what I saw from him in 2025 at Alabama, and that's due in large part to him being in better shape and finally getting some quality coaching. Keeley used power moves in the spring, and that will be his top move early at Notre Dame, but I also want to see him develop a couple of counter moves. If Keeley isn't able to provide a quality pass rush it will be hard to justify having him be a true rotation player, and his snaps will be geared more towards just spelling the starters. 

The third level, and I think this is less likely for 2026, is that Keeley fully taps into the five-star potential we saw from him as a high school player. That means his explosiveness comes back, his body is in great position and he's really made strides with his technical game. If that happens you'll have an edge that can come off the bench and give the defense the playmaking skill that we see from the starters. That's asking a lot of Keeley in his first season, but I do believe the tools are still there. 

A GOOD SEASON FOR KEELEY WOULD BE ....

One in which he continues getting his body in great shape, improves his technical game, plays with a great motor and shows the playmaking skill needed to truly establish himself as a top notch rotation player. There are two types of "off-the-bench" lineman. One is a guy who is expected to come off the bench, play at a high level and produce like a starter. Two is a guy who plays minimal reps and whose role is primarily to just spell the starter for a handful of snaps per game. A good season for Keeley is his being the first option.

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