Alabama veteran DL spreading his faith as a leader for Tide

Alabama’s Tim Keenan III is one of the top returning defensive tackles in the nation and is on the Nagurski Trophy watch list ahead of the 2025 season.

Keenan’s physical ability on the football field speaks for itself, but there is something special to the Birmingham native that he has been using his voice for, and that is spreading the word of God.

Keenan understands the type of status that a player like him has in today’s era of college athletics, but he says his goal is to be as humble as he can. More and more athletes are professing their faith, and Keenan believes athletes are in a great position to reach several people.

“I’m glad that a lot of other guys are doing it too because usually you see a lot of people grasp on a lot of things, like music and all of that type of stuff, so as athletes, a lot of people idolize us in a way,” Keenan said. “So, we’re pushing who we idolize, and that’s our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and everybody going to be moving towards that way eventually.”

Keenan has given a portion of his NIL earnings to his church and speaks to churches that reach out to him. He recently spoke at Northport Baptist, and he said many churches are reaching out to him.

To Keenan, getting close to God is important to him, but he feels led to speak the name of Jesus whenever and wherever he can.

“I want to say it’s in Matthew, but the verse says, ‘Now go make a nation of my people. Go spread the word,’ so I mean, I got my life together and all that stuff, but I don’t want to be in heaven alone when it’s all said and done,” Keenan said, referring to Matthew 28:19.

Keenan was asked if he gets more nervous preparing to run onto the football field or sharing his faith in front of crowds.

“I get more nervous going to talk to people, just because I’m from the South, so I know I got a little country grandma in me,” Keenan said. “I say ‘y’all’ and you know, it just sounds southern. So those the things I be thinking about. But for the most part, just like Moses, who was worried about people not listening to him because he had a stutter. But God said, ‘I just told you to go do it, and I’m going to be with you.’ So, that’s what I try to tell people about the word of God, that God’s with me and that he wouldn’t put me in this position if he didn’t think I could do it.”

Keenan said his brother, Kameron, recently got baptized and is set to come to Alabama soon.