After not seeing the field for Alabama football last season, former five-star recruit Keon Keeley is making a change. After coming to the Crimson Tide as an edge, the now-redshirt freshman will play the bandit position in new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s new defense.

The bandit is more of a standard defensive end in the 4-2-5 “swarm” defense Wommack favors. It generally is the edge on the weak side.

“When you look at Keon, you see his frame and how he’s developed,” Wommack said. “He’s got a frame that’s going to grow more into that bandit role for us. That bandit position can play a 9-technique, a 5-technique, can reduce down and play a 4i at times. I think as you see what Keon is developing into and may develop into at the next level, that’s more of better fit for him.”

Keeley, still listed as a linebacker on Alabama’s roster, was spotted with the defensive linemen during media practice viewing periods on Wednesday. The youngster, listed at 6-foot-5, 242 pounds, came to Alabama from Berkeley Prep in Florida, where he was ranked as a five-star by every major recruiting service.

Despite not getting any playing time during the 2023 season, Keeley was undeterred before the Crimson Tide’s Rose Bowl appearance. He told AL.com that the development aspect of Alabama’s program was a selling point for him.

He even stuck around through the coaching change.

“I fell in love with that,” Keeley said in December. “I know that they’ll be able to develop me to my full potential. Only thing I can focus on is getting 1% better and preparing for that time when it’s time for me to play and time for my name to get called. That’s what I can focus on, getting 1% better and staying mature about it.”

Alabama continues spring practice on Friday. The Crimson Tide wraps the spring with the A-Day game, April 13 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.