He was one of the highest rated recruits to come into the program, and the fact that he was doing it as a defensive end only solidified his importance.

But along the way Keeley continued to watch his classmates like Kadyn Proctor, Caleb Downs, and Justice Haynes see the field. Keeley, who was the top ranked freshman in Alabama’s recruiting class, didn't see the field while serving as a linebacker under Nick Saban.

Then once defensive coordinator Kane Wommack came into play, he switched him over to defensive end, which required him to gain weight and to learn the position. So whenever he did get to play, it was usually in garbage time.

But fans have been clamoring for Keeley. For a team that needs all the pass rush it can get, there was no better opportunity for Keeley to break out onto the scene.

Week 7’s game was the breakout game that everyone was waiting for. Keeley may have only played 13 snaps, but those snaps had extra meaning behind them.

He posted a half sack (which looked like a full one), along with two total tackles, and now expect to see more of the top prospect throughout the season.

As we’ve seen with coach Kalen DeBoer’s staff, there’s typically a reason for everything they do, and DeBoer has addressed that regarding the former five-star recruit.

"There's just things that -- there's reasons that have kept him from getting on the football field that he just continues to work on," DeBoer said on Monday.

But don’t worry Gump Nation, Wommack has heard your pleas.

"I know our fans have been waiting on that, waiting on him to take steps," Wommack said. "Excited for him. Certainly he didn't have the role that probably he would want at the beginning of the season, but he's continually taking steps in the right direction. He has a role for us now, and he took advantage of that role on Saturday. I thought he did a really nice job in some different pass rush scenarios. He's getting better at his down-in and down-out play."

Alongside Yhonzae Pierre and linemen James Smith, LT Overton and Tim Keenan, Alabama’s defensive line has the potential to be one of the more deadlier forces in college football.